[Transplantation of isolated chondrocytes in articular cartilage defects. Regeneration of adult hyaline cartilage with fetal chondrocytes].

Viability and proliferative capacity of the chondrocytes are particularly important for a successful cartilage graft. This can be demonstrated by a new in vitro colony-forming assay. Only fetal or neonatal chondrocytes are considered to be applicable according to these criteria. Single cell suspensions prepared from articular cartilage can be transplanted without technical problems. In animal experiments articular cartilage regenerated after transplantation of neonatal chondrocytes, whereas only connective tissue was found in controls.