Viability of ligaments after freezing: an experimental study in a rabbit model

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Orthop. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.1100060112· OSTI ID:5521097

Frank, C; Edwards, P; McDonald, D; Bodie, D; Sabiston, P

Our purpose in this study was to assess ligament fibroblast viability after freezing by quantifying the subsequent ability of fibroblasts to synthesize collagen in vitro. Both medial collateral ligament (MCL) complexes from 40 adolescent rabbits were studied. Collagen production was determined by in vitro incubation of ligaments in /sup 3/H-proline (a collagen precursor) and subsequent analysis of /sup 3/H-hydroxyproline (a marker of newly synthesized collagen). Autoradiographs determined the distributions of ligament cell activity. All right MCL complexes served as fresh controls, providing a baseline of collagen production. Each left MCL was assigned to an experimental group and was either incubated fresh (10 animals); killed by drying, multiple freeze thawing, or cycloheximide (six animals); or slowly frozen at -70 degrees C without cryoprotection (24 animals). Collagen production of rapidly thawed ligaments was studied by proline incubation at 1 day, 9 days, or 6 weeks after freezing and was compared with that of contralateral fresh controls. Results demonstrate that some cells in the substance of these rabbit ligaments retained the ability to synthesize collagen in vitro after being frozen for up to 6 weeks. Mean collagen production of frozen ligaments was decreased, but tests of mean and median values as well as ratios were statistically similar to fresh contralateral ligaments in all animals. This postfreezing ligament cell survival and collagen production after -70 degrees C storage may have implications for ligament transplantation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Calgary, Alberta
• OSTI ID: 5521097
• Journal Information: J. Orthop. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Orthop. Res.; (United States) Vol. 6:1; ISSN JORED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINES
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
AZOLES
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
COLLAGEN
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
FIBROBLASTS
FREEZING
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY ACIDS
HYDROXYPROLINE
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PROLINE
PROTEINS
PYRROLES
PYRROLIDINES
RABBITS
SCLEROPROTEINS
SOMATIC CELLS
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
VIABILITY