Bovine Chondrocytes are isolated from normal articular cartilage from one month old calves. The cells are cryopreserved after isolation and can be cultured and propagated through several passages. In order for chondrocytes to maintain their phenotype, i.e produce and maintain the extracellular matrix of cartilage (type II collagen and aggrecan), they must be cultured at high density (such as 1M cells/ml) or in gels or scaffolds. Chondrocytes grown at low density will lose their phenotype, and de-differentiate into fibroblast-like cells which produce type I collagen. Chondrocyte cultures are useful in vitro models for studying:

• Cartilage regeneration and repair
• Cytokine and growth factor effects on cartilage
• Arthritis when co-cultured with anti-collagen antibodies and/or cells of inflammation such as activated macrophages and lymphocytes.