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.
Following the peritendon was removed by means of microsurgical technique, the tenocyte was isolated from the human embryonic tendons by digesting it with trypsin and collagenase. These cells were all stored in frozen condition until they were cultured by F12 culture fluid added with 20% FBS to the 15th generation.These cells were able to grow adhering to the wall and stop growing with contact inhibition. The time of cellsgroup duplication was 4 days, which was similar to the peak time of its mitosis. The number of its chromosome group 2n=46 was 87.5-91.0%. The optimal conditions for tendon cell culture in vitro were investigated, and it was found that after they were reaminated and subcultured the frozen storage didn’t influence their growth, morphology, genetic characteristics. In our research we detected the content generation cells and found the cultured human embryonic tenocyte had same ability never changed with the cells subcultured. We also disscussed the future of tenocyte-a biomaterial in the field of artificial implant.