In order to study the biological characteristics of tenocyte and fibroblast, the former was obtained from rabbit’s tendon, and the latter from rabbits’s skin. Both cells were cultured according Heuderson’s method. The cell morphology, strapping and expanding time, and the type of collagen fiber synthesized in culture were observed. The results showed that the strapping and expanding time of fibroblast was faster than that of tenocyte. The cellular arrangement of fibroblast was irregular, but that in tenocyte was regular. Type I and III collagen of fibers were found in cultured fibroblost while only type I collagen fibers were found in culture of tenocyte. The tenocyte and fibroblast could be identified individually by strapping and expanding time, arrangement of cells and type of collagen fiber synthesized.
In order to investigate the possibility of repairing injuried tendon with living artificial tendon, after combining culture, subcultured autogenous tendon cells with carbon fibers were implanted into the calcaneous tendon of rabbits. In different stages, the synthesis of type I collagen and their relevant morphological changes were observed. The results showed as follows: after implantation, tendon cells continued proliferating. Four weeks after implantation, tendon cells were detached from the carbon fibers and proliferated and produced collagen among the carbon fibers. The collagen fibrils were linked with each other to formed a dense structure. In the linkage site, the collagen fibrils originated from the implants joined to that from the ruptured end of the tendon, which meaned that the implant was healed with the recipient tendon. Observed under scanning electronic microscope, the tendon cells were lined among the carbon fibers evenly and in order, the collagen fibrils joined each other and formed an network, the fibrils were lined parallel to the carbon fibers. Under transparent electron microscope, the nucleolus were clear and organelle were abundant.
In order to investigate the compatibility and growth between the tendon cell or fibroblast of rabbit and artificial materials, the combined-culture of the two cells with the carbon fiber, terylene and chitin was observed respectively. Results showed as following: in vitro, the compatibility of carbon fiber with these two cells was well, cell-adhesion ability was good as well. Few cells grew on terylene. Chitin inhibited the growth of either cells. No matter the tendon cell or the fibroblast, the amount of cells adhering on the carbon fiber was far more than that on terylene or chitin. When the three materials were interlaced together, the collagen fibers produced by the cells were arranged in direction parallel to the carbon fibers. As the time elapsed, the cells on the carbon fiber distributed evenly and enveloped the material in network-like fashion, this suggested that carbon fiber was a good material for producing living artificial tendon and ligament.