Comparison of cartilage sources and methods for the ex-vivo determination of chondrocyte viability

The post-mortem chondrocyte viability could potentially be used as an indicator of time since death for forensic needs. The aim of presented study was to investigate three different cartilage donor sites (knee, ankle, and auricle) and three viability analysis protocols (manual counting under a microscope, cell viability analyzer, flow cytometer) for ex vivo determination of chondrocyte viability. The cartilage samples were obtained from both knees (condyles), both ankles (trochlea), and both ears (antihelix) of a male donor. They were randomly divided and stored in a cell culture media at 4 oC or room temperature. The viability analysis using all three protocols in parallel was conducted on Day 3, 6, and 13 after the time of death. The auricular samples were infected at an early stage and were excluded from the analysis. The articular samples revealed a time-dependent viability decrease (ß = –0.641, p < 0.001), which was unrelated to the ambient temperature or source joint (knee or ankle). The cell viability analyzer attained the highest viability values with the least scattered results. A timedependent viability decrease, unrelated to the ambient temperature (4 oC versus room temperature) or chondrocyte source, was demonstrated in our study. The cartilage biopsy from a peripheral joint in combination with the cell viability analyzer has a potential role as an indicator of the time since death based on chondrocytes viability and is warranted for further systematic research.