Biological characteristics of rabbit articular chondrocytes cultured in vitro and effects of Chinese herbal Astragalus membranaceus on them

Objective:To study the biological characteristics of rabbit articular chondrocyte and Alginate's complex cultured in vitro and evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal Astragalus membranaceus on them.Methods:Rabbits knee articular chondrocytes were isolated and divided into two groupes.Group A was cultured with culture medium and Group B with culture medium which contain 2% Astragalus membranaceus injection.Morphological features,the expression of glycosaminoglycan and collagen Ⅱ were observed respectively.Results:①In both groups the expression of collagen Ⅱ and glycosaninoglycan reached the highest level from the fourth week to sixth week and decreased after the sixth week.②In Group B the expression of collagen Ⅱ and glycosaninoglycan were signifcantly stronger than that of Group A.Conclusion:The compound culture of chondrocytes and Alginate can maintain the stable phenotype of chondrocytes.The Chinese herbal Astragalus membranaceus can promote the expression of collagen Ⅱ and glycosaninoglycan significantly.