Histological And Biomechanical Studies Of Deep-frozen Acellular Tendon Grafting

Objective：To study the influence of decellularization on tendon graft healingand investigate mechanism of tendon healing, we compared thehistological and biomechanical characteristics of deep-frozen acellulartendon grafting with fresh tendon autografting.Methods：Ninety-six Wistar rats were divided into experimental and controlgroups randomly. The rats in experimental group experienceddeep-frozen acellular Achilles tendon autografting, and the rats in controlgroup underwent Achilles tendon autografting. The rats were killed andthe tendon grafts were harvested1,2,4and8weeks postoperatively.HE staining was performed to observe the morphological changes oftendon graft optical microscope. Image analyses based onimmunohistochemical staining of collagen type I and III were performed,and biomechanics parameters including elastic modulus and ultimatefailure load were tested in two groups.Results：Expression levels of collagen type I and III increased over time. In1and2weeks after grafting, the control group had significantly higherlevels of collagen expression compared with the experimental group(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between two groups in4and8weeks. The results of elastic modulus and ultimate failure loadshowed they were greater in the control group than the experimental group in1and2weeks (P<0.05), but there was no significant differencein two groups in4and8weeks.Conclusion：The long-term results of deep-frozen acellular tendon grafting are similarto tendon autografting, and deep-frozen acellular tendon can be used astendon graft.