OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of, morphology histology and ultrastructure of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) autograft and two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft after transplantation. METHODS: Sixty New Zealand rabbits and sixty Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: ACL autograft group and two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft group. Immunosuppressant were not used after transplantation. The histology and ultrastructure of the ACL of transplantation and normal knee were observed after 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. RESULTS: The rate of remodeling process was faster in ACL autograft than in two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft, but there was similar remodeling process between two groups 12 weeks after transplantation. The proportions of large-diameter fibers(gt; or = 80 nm) of ACL autograft and cryopreserved ACL allograft were 6% and 24% in the 4th week, and were 0 and 2% in the 12th week, respectively. The proportions of small-diameter of fibers(lt; 80 nm) of ACL autogrft and cryopreserved ACL allograft were 94% and 76% in the 4th week, and 100% and 98% in the 12th week, respectively. Histologic incorporation in ACL autograft was similar to that in cryopreserved ACL allograft. CONCLUSION: Two-step cryopreserved bone-ACL-bone allograft were similar to bone-ACL-bone autograft cryopreserved in remodeling process and histology. The rate of remodeling process was faster in ACL autograft than in cryopreserved ACL allograft.
