FIG. 2.

Histological and biochemical evaluation of neocartilage engineered from extensively (passage 2 [P2]) and moderately (P1 [passage 1]) expanded chondrocytes in fibrous collagen disks after 12 weeks implantation in sheep compared to native sheep auricular cartilage. High-quality neocartilage was engineered from P2+passage 0 (P0) and from P2+basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) chondrocytes (A). This cartilage was comparable to neocartilage engineered from P1 chondrocytes. Control P2 chondrocytes formed poor quality cartilage. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and GAG/DNA ratio (B, C) and elastin content (D) confirmed histological findings (n = 4 for each group). Residual scaffold fibers stained red on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections. Scale bar: 200 μm except 100 μm for elastin. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea