Scanning Electron Microscopy of Chondrocytes from Fracture Callus Cartilage

Abstract

There is little information available in the literature on scanning electron microscopy of cartilage tissue. Most of the available information deals with articular cartilage (1,2). More specifically, there are no studies reported on the scanning electron microscopy of differentiating callus cartilage. This preliminary report is part of our studies on the differentiation and eventual calcification of rabbit callus cartilage.Closed fractures were produced in the tibias of white rabbits by acute angulation. Seven days after fracture, the callus was dissected into homogenous cartilage sections corresponding to the fibrous, hypertrophic and calcified cartilage types of the epiphyseal plate (3). The cartilage specimens were dehydrated by ascending acetone series or freeze-dried. Some acetone dried specimens were freeze-dried while others were critical point dried. All specimens were mounted on Cambridge specimen stubs and coated with carbon and gold.