Abstract: Objective To investigate proper trachea reconstruction approaches of goat by using chondrocytes cell-sheet technology. Methods Tissue engineering (TE) cartilage was constructed via cell-sheet technology. Six goats were involved in this study. After 6-week-culture in vitro, cell-sheets were implanted into superficial fascia layer of the goat ’s abdomen. Eight weeks later, cartilage-like tissue wrapped around a silica tube was transplanted into peritrachea muscles in 3 goats. Finally, the TE cartilage with muscle pedicle was used to repair goat trachea defect (pedicled transplantation group, PT group) after cultured in vivo for 8 weeks. The remains were auto-transplanted to reconstruct trachea defect after 16-week-culture in vivo (dissociated transplantation group, DT group). Three intact cartilage rings were resected in all animals. Results After 6 weeks cultured in vitro, all sheets were charactered as cartilage features. In PT group, 8 weeks later after implantation, matured TE cartilage were observed. After 8-week-culture in peritrachea muscle, TE cartilage was well vascularized and reformed. Animals in PT group had lived for a long time (14 weeks) until the T tube was removed. The gross view and histology showed the survived TE cartilage with well remained tube shape. But collapse was observed on local site where not surrounded by TE cartilage. In the meanwhile, serious hyperplasia of fibrillar connective tissue that obstacled the lumina was observed. In DT group, typical cartilage features were presented in TE cartilage after 16-week-cultur in vivo. But animals all died in two weeks after transplantation even with T tube. The gross view and histology indicated serious necrosis of repaired segment with tiny sporadic cartilage like tissue. Conclusion Cell-sheet technology is a stable approach for TE cartilage reconstruction; Dissociated TE cartilage transplant cannot survive in perplexing trachea environment; In the oppo-site, vascularized TE cartilage could be an ideal approach for trachea reconstruction, and the integrated cartilage exterior lay-er and epithelized lumina are both crucial to successful operation.

Key words: Tissue engineered cartilage, Cell-sheet, Trachea reconstruction, Epithelization