# AN IN VITRO & IN VIVO MODEL OF MENISCAL WOUND REPAIR

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · 1988 · $77,517

## Abstract

Studies in our laboratories and the laboratories of others have now
indicated that the avascular portion of the fibrocartilaginous knee
join meniscus has the potential to repair itself.  The experiments
described in this application are designed to study further the
biology and repair capabilities of the knee joint meniscus, and
provide important data regarding fundamental aspects of the cell
biology of meniscal fibrocartilage.  The specific aims of the
project are to:  (1) determine, using cell culture and our recently
developed organ culture model, the role played by synoviocytes
and several interrelated physiologic compounds in meniscal wound
repair; and (2) develop a parallel in vivo animal model to study
meniscal wound repair based on the results of the first specific
aim.  To achieve these goals, the following methodologies will be
used:  (1) cell and organ culture techniques; (2) histological
techniques, to include light and electron microscopy; (3)
conventional and high-pressure liquid chromatography; (4)
cytoplasmic dot blot hybridization using specific cDNA probes; (5)
autoradiography; (6) morphometry; and (7) immunohistochemistry.
Data obtained from the proposed experiments will provide a basis
for future practical application to clinical orthopaedic practice.
Further development and refining of our meniscal organ culture
system will allow for the future screening of the effects of drugs
and other compounds on the response of meniscal tissue to injury.
Ultimately, the in vivo animal models may pave the way for
human trials in an effort to obviate the need for meniscectomies
and their morbid sequelae.  Both the in vitro and in vivo models
will be useful for future studies designed to study the
biomechanical properties of the repair tissue as well as design of
a synthetic biomatrix to expedite meniscal wound repair.  Thus,
insights gained from the proposed research can be expected to
futher our understanding of synovial joint physiology and thereby
aid in the design and selection of treatment modalities to be used
by the clinicians.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156798
- **Project number:** 2R01AR034349-04A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS
- **SAM.gov UEI:** VDFYLZPJEAV6
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD J WEBBER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $77,517
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-07-01 → 1991-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156798

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156798, AN IN VITRO & IN VIVO MODEL OF MENISCAL WOUND REPAIR (2R01AR034349-04A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156798. Licensed CC0.

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