Abstract
To determine the effect of extracellular matrix on chondrocytes, mechanical properties and production of type II collagen of chondrocytes were measured. Isolated bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured on a culture dish for 3 weeks and then embedded in a type I collagen gels. After 3-4 weeks, the chondrocytes were excised from the constructs and a pipette aspiration test was performed. The Young's modulus significantly increased when the chondrocytes were embedded in the collagen gels, which corresponded to the development in cytoskeletal structure. In addition, type II collagen was observed by immunofluorescence microscopy, showing that the production of type II collagen was less detected with time in culture on the culture dish. This result indicates that the mechanical environment may influence the differentiated state from chondrocytes to fibroblast. The mechanical properties and physiological functions of chondrocytes are very important to provide more quantitative information about the regulation of the cartilage metabolism.
