Osteochondral repair with synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells

The aim of the present study was to analyze cartilage repair tissue quality following synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cell (SMSC) transplantation in a rabbit osteochondral defect. A total of 15 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly distributed into three groups (n=5 in each group). In group 1, an osteochondral defect model was established in the right knee trochlea, prior to transplantation with SMSCs (SMSC group). In group 2, an osteochondral defect model was established without further treatment (control group). Group 3 did not undergo osteochondral defect model establishment and served as the sham control (normal group). All animals were sacrificed 12 weeks following the surgical procedures for magnetic resonance imaging and histological examination. No significant differences were observed between the control and SMSC group in the macroscopic score (P>0.05), the 2D magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue score (P>0.05) or the modified O'Driscoll scale (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, a significant improvement in tissue quality was observed in the SMSCs group postoperatively. The repair tissue of the SMSCs group had a shorter T(2), compared with that of the control group, although no significant difference was detected (P>0.05). Furthermore, the apparent diffusion coefficient in the repair tissue of the SMSC group had a significantly lower value, compared with that of the control group (P=0.016). The results of the present study demonstrated that osteochondral repair using SMSCs facilitated the repair of appropriate tissue texture.