Regeneration of artificial injuries external ear elastic cartilage of rabbits after stem cells local injection

Introduction: Every year, a large number of patients from developed countries turn to surgical departments with the reconstruction problems of the auricle cartilage. A some of surgical procedures was developed to correct minor defects due to the low regenerative capacity of elastic cartilage. Stem cells can potentially differentiate into chondroblasts and chondrocytes and restore cartilage integrity. Many factors influence on the differentiation and proliferation of stem cells, which complicates the method application. Therefore, the investigation of using stem cells to regeneration elastic cartilage is relevant. Aim: clarification the regeneration features of the artificial defect of the rabbits’ ear elastic cartilage after the stem cells injection. Materials and methods: The investigation was conducted on rabbits of chinchilla breed aged 1.5 months, weighing 2.5 kg. Artificial lesions measuring 2 x 7-10 mm were simulated on the cartilaginous plate of the outer ear with a scalpel. 0.5 ml of stem cell suspension (~5 million) obtained from the umbilical cord of rabbits by enzymatic method was injected into the defect site. Histological sections of the cartilage defect were prepared. The samples were stained by Weigert and Azure II methods. The relative density of collagen, elastin fibers, oxyphilic and basophilic tissue elements was programmatically evaluated. Results and discussion: The amount of fibers in the native elastic cartilage was more on 35% of the relative dermis. The newly formed tissues at the damage cartilage was like to the dermis after 2 months. Similar results were found on ear in 2.5 and 3 months after surgery. Native cartilage on histological sections almost was not oxyphilic. Maybe a significant number of acidic components was masked it. Dense connective tissue contains almost equal amounts of both components. Thus, it is possible to trace changes in the intercellular matrix that will characterize the direction of the regeneration process. The area of elastic cartilage defect was characterized by a significant presence of oxyphilic elements after 2 months of the stem cells addition. The ratio of oxyphilic and basophilic components in the native elastic cartilage was about to zero. For the dermis was 1.4-1.5. Dense scar connective tissue was characterized by a ratio about 1. Based on the results obtained, was assumed that the direction of stem cell proliferation is determined shortly after injection. Conclusion: The addition of stem cells to the area of the artificially created elastic cartilage defect of the rabbit's ear was not allow to obtain stable regenerative processes of cartilage tissue and the restoration of the intercellular matrix to its original state. The process of stem cell differentiation contributes the formation of dense connective tissue of the scar, which may be due to the presence of proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors and other biologically active molecules. This was not creating the necessary conditions for the cartilage regeneration.