Comparative analysis of the integration of autologous and allogeneic cryopreserved tendons in the femoral canal on a model of laboratory animals

Allogeneic tendon grafts are seriously demand in knee joint plastic surgery. The novel method of tendon cryopreservation, including sterilization with supercritical carbon dioxide, was developed in N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Cryopreserved tendons retain their normal fiber structure without significant loss of mechanical properties. At the next stage it was necessary to evaluate cryopreserved tendons′ integration inside bone canal in experimental animals.

The aim of study. To evaluate morphologic changes of autologous and allogeneic tendons inside the femur in rats and to determine the effect of tendon transplantation on the physical activity.

Material and methods. The study was conducted on white inbreed male rats. Three groups of animals were formed: the control group (animals without tendon transplantation), the 1st experimental group – animals with autologous tendon transplantation, the 2nd experimental group – animals with allogeneic tendon transplantation. In animals of the experimental groups the through channel was formed in the distal metaepiphysis of the femur and a tail tendon graft 0.5 x 0.1 cm was placed there. To assess the physical activity of the animals, we studied maximum distance that the animals could run 3 and 6 weeks after transplantation was determined, using treadmill test. The graft structure was evaluated on histological preparations in transmitted light, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Van Gieson′s stain. To assess the preservation of collagen fibers we checked the autofluorescence intensity of collagen.

Results. According to the treadmill test, the distance run by the animals of both experimental groups did not significantly differ from the values in the control group. Histological analysis after 3 weeks in both experimental groups revealed signs of fibers′ decomposition in the absence of inflammatory infiltration and maintaining close contact with bone trabeculae. The autofluorescence intensity of the collagen fibers in grafts corresponded to normal or was close to normal. After 6 weeks, the animals of both experimental groups revealed areas of graft fusion with their own bone, Sharpe fibers were actively formed. In both groups, numerous small vessels with diameters up to 10 microns were detected in the area of tendon-bone contact. Infiltration of grafts by inflammatory cells was absent or very insignificant, active migration of fibroblasts to the tendon area was also not observed. In both groups, tendon grafts had areas where fiber decompactization was observed.  In the area of contact with the bone, the autofluorescence of tendon fibers was sharply increased, which indicates the chemical cleavage of collagen. At 3 and 6 weeks after transplantation the effect of fixation (integration) of the tendon with bone tissue was observed in both experimental groups.

Conclusions. Allogeneic tendon grafts did not cause a pronounced inflammatory or immune reaction in experimental animals. 6 weeks after transplantation of autologous and allogeneic tendons, the integration of grafts inside the femoral canal was observed. Cryopreserved allogeneic tendons were able to integrate into the body's own tissues without pronounced structural and functional disorders. According to the treadmill test, the distance covered by the animals of both experimental groups did not differ statistically significantly from the values in the control group (without tendon transplantation) after 3 and 6 weeks

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