Development of a Culture System of Living Tissues under Dynamic Load Condition

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1.To study the function of living tissues cultured under various mechanical loading conditions, a system was designed for the application of dynamic load to cultured tissues, which consists of a tissue culture chamber, a linear actuator, and a load cell. The temperature in the culture chamber is maintained at 37ﾟC with heated water circulation, and pH of the medium is maintained with a mixture of 95% air and 5% CO_2 gas.2.To evaluate the performance of the system, collagen fascicles obtained from a rabbit patellar tendon were cultured under static load condition. The viability of fibroblasts in the fascicles was maintained at the level of non-cultured, control fascicles for 2 weeks.3.The material of culture dish and grips were changed from polymethylmethacrylate to polycarbonate for sterilization in an autoclave.4.Collagen fascicles were cultured under static load condition for 1 and 2 weeks, and their mechanical properties were determined. Tensile strength and tangent modulus of collagen fascicles cultured under static load condition for 2 weeks were similar to those of non-cultured, control fascicles. A significant correlation was observed in cultured collagen fascicles between accumulated applied stress and tensile strength.5.Collagen fascicles were, then, cultured under cyclic load condition for 1 and 2 weeks. The tensile strength and tangent modulus of the fascicles cultured under the cyclic tensile load of 50% of in vivo peak stress were almost the same as those of control fascicles.