Chondrogenic induction of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

ObjectiveTo isolate and culture the rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and then to induce MSCs into chondrocytes in vitro .MethodsThe MSCs was isolated and expanded from cultured and nucleated cell fraction of autologous bone marrow. Dexamethasone(10 -7 mol·L -1 ), ascorbic acid (50 mg·L -1 ) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF 10 μg·L -1 ) were added into MSCs medium for the first week. Then the bFGF was replaced by transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF β 1 10 μg·L -1 ) for next three weeks. ResultsSome spindle MSCs turned into round or elliptic shape and secreted metachromatic matrix with Toluidine blue. The alkaline phosphates(ALP) activity of MSCs increased to twenty fold . The RT PCR indicated that the MSCs mainly expressed type Ⅰ collagen mRNA before induction. After induction the partial differentiated cells begun to express type Ⅱ collagen mRNA.ConclusionIn this condition the rabbit MSCs may be induced into chondrocytes in vitro .