Cartilage obtaining from adipose derived adult mesenchymal stem cells with perichondrium influence

Repair of large cartilage defects is mostly problematic. For this, autologous cartilage grafts are most preferred one among the reconstructive alternatives. The most important disadvantage of this method is limited donor area. In this study, it was investigated the possibility of regeneration of new cartilage tissue creating by adult adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells to be stimulated by perichondriumwhich secretes growth factors. For this purpose, three different groups (Group 1, 2 and 3) were designed by using both ears of the rabbits. The 2x2 cm cartilage defects were created leaving perichondrium intact in the rabbit?s ears. The defects of the right ears were used as experimental side and the left ones were used as control side in the same animal. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) was obtained by taking subcutaneous fat tissue from the same animal. Adipose derived adult stemcell (ADAS) were put to assay in three different groups by marking DiI stain. ADAS rich SVF was applied into the cartilage defect in group 1, replicated ADAS in culture into the cartilage defect in group 2 and replicated and redirected in culture ADAS into the cartilage defect in group 3. After follow-up period, the rabbits have sacrificed after 40 days and the repaired tissue in the cartilage defects were evaluated by macroscopic and microscopic methods. The results were statistically analyzed with the Student t- test (p value was 0.05). As a result, although the experimental defects in the group 1 have showed cartilage-like tissue, no important statistically difference was found with the result of the controls. The group 2 and 3 have showed complete or near-complete cartilage formation in the defects by application ADAS. 3 In conclusion; the replicated ADAS used in the group 2 and the replicated and redirected ADAS used in the group 3 have produced complete or near-complete cartilage formation in the defects. But, the quality of the new-formed cartilage hasshowed lower than the original elastic cartilage of the ear.