[In vivo synthesis of cartilage after transplantation of chondrocytes in animal experiments (author's transl)].

Long-term results after cartilage transplantation are not satisfactory owing to poor viability of the chondrocytes. In vitro experiments with isolated fetal and neonatal rabbit chondrocytes revealed a much better proliferative ability compared with adult cartilage derived cells. Cryopreservation of cell suspensions did not decrease the proliferative ability. In in vivo experiments, cultured neonatal, fetal, and cryopreserved rabbit chondrocytes were tested in transplants and compared with cell-free controls or radiated chondrocytes. These chondrocytic transplants showed good viability and seemed to synthesize cartilage matrix, which could be stained with safranin, whereas only fibrous tissue was found in controls.