Effect of Dynamic Compression on in Vitro Chondrocyte Metabolism
Resource
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS v.31 n.5 pp.439-449
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS
Journal Volume
v.31
Journal Issue
n.5
Pages
439-449
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
TSUANG, YANG-HWEI
CHEN, LI-TING
CHENG, CHENG-KUNG
SUN, JUI-SHENG
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chondrocytes can detect and respond to the mechanical environment by altering their metabolism. This study was designed to explore the effects of dynamic compression on chondrocyte metabolism. METHODS: Chondrocytes were harvested from newborn Wistar rats. After 7 days of expansion, chondrocytes embedded in agarose discs underwent uniaxial unconfined dynamic compression loads at different amplitudes (5%, 10%, and 15%) and frequencies (0.5 Hz, 1.0 Hz, 2.0 Hz, and 3.0 Hz) with a duration of 24 hours. The delayed effects on the chondrocytes were studied at 1, 3, and 7 days after the experiment. RESULTS: The results showed that at 10% strain, higher-frequency compression pressure can enhance the proliferation of chondrocytes. The synthesis of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) increased at 10%-15% strain and a 1-Hz load. The synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) increased at the 0.5-Hz load; while decreasing at the 15% strain. With 10% strain, 1 Hz dynamic compression, the proliferation of chondrocytes and GAG synthesis increased and persisted for 7 days, and NO synthesis decreased at the third and seventh days of culture. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that chondrocytes respond metabolically to compressive loading, which is expected to modulate the growth and the resultant biomechanical properties of these tissue- engineered constructs during culture.
Subjects
agarose
bioreactors
dynamic compression
nitric oxide
proteoglycan