OBJECTIVETo explore the chondrogenetic effect of induce media containing different concentrations of fetal bovine serum (FBS) on BMSCs differentiation in vitro and provide technical parameters for cartilage engineering in vitro.

METHODSPassage 2 BMSCs of swine were seeded at the density of 5 x 10(7) cells/cm3 to disc-shaped PGA scaffolds with a diameter of 5mm and a thickness of 2mm. After 7days, the scaffolds were induced in media with TGF-beta1, IGF-I, dexamethasone, and different concentrations of FBS: 0% in A group, 5% in B group, and 10% in C group. Specimens were collected after 8 weeks for gross observation, size evaluation, wet weight, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, histology assessment, and immunohistology of type II collagen.

RESULTSThe compound of C group showed china-white color, hard and fine texture, no obvious change in size and shape, typical lacuna structures, cartilage specific ECM, and significantly higher wet weight and GAG content. The compound of B group showed reduced size, fewer lacuna structures and some cartilage specific ECM. And the compound of A group showed greatly reduced size, soft and loose texture, and no typical lacuna structure or cartilage specific ECM.

CONCLUSIONSFBS was indispensable to chondrogenetic media for in-vitro tissue engineering of cartilage with BMSCs.