Title:VEGF, BMP-7, Matrigel<sup>TM</sup>, Hyaluronic Acid, In Vitro Cultured Chondrocytes and Trephination for Healing of the Avascular Portion of the Meniscus. An Experimental Study in Sheep
VOLUME: 10 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Francisco Forriol, Umile Giuseppe Longo, Julio Duart, Purification Ripalda, Javier Vaquero, Mattia Loppini, Giovanni Romeo, Stefano Campi, Wasim S. Khan, Andrea O. Muda and Vincenzo Denaro
Affiliation:University Campus Bio- Medico of Rome, Italy.
Keywords:BMP-7, cell-therapy, healing, growth factors, meniscus, repair.
Abstract:Objective: To evaluate the effects of VEGF, BMP-7, MatrigelTM, hyaluronic acid, in vitro cultured
chondrocytes and trephination to promote and enhance the healing process of avascular meniscal tears in an
animal model. Methods: A longitudinal tear was produced in the inner avascular part of the meniscus of 24
sheeps. Each tear was treated with trephination technique and suture. The animals were divided into 6 groups to receive a
different treatment: control (I); VEGF, BMP-7, MatrigelTM, hyaluronic acid, in vitro cultured chondrocytes. At 8 weeks
from surgery, meniscal samples were explanted and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and histomorphometry.
Results: At the histological examination, Group IV and VI showed a partial closure of the meniscal lesion, whereas
Group I, II, III, and V did not show any evidence of healing. In the group IV, the healed tissue represented the 22.95% of
the lesion area. In the group VI, the healed tissue represented the 43.75% of the lesion area. Conclusions: Autologous
chondrocytes and BMP-7 associated with trephination and suture techniques enhanced healing process of meniscal tears
in the avascular inner third of the meniscus in ovine model.
