Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate effect of bFGF on rabbit articular chondrocyte culture in vitro. Chondrocytes were isolated from articular artilage of New Zealand rabbit of 1～3 d. Chondrocytes were seeded in 10 mL 1640 medium supplemented with 2% fetal calf serum(FCS)in the presence or absence of bFGF. Some slices were placed in culture flask before seeding chondrocytes. After 3 d in culture, cells were exposed to ^[3H]-proline for 24 h, then the rate of incorporation of ^[3H]-proline was measured and morphological appearance of collagen of chondrocytes monolayers was obsrved under electron microscope and light microscope. When chondrocyte was cultured for 2 weeks at confluence, chondrocyte was kept to cluture in the presence and absence of bFGF for 1 week, then morphological appearance of collagen was defected. The amount of incorporation of ^[3H]-proline was greater in chondrocyle cluture grown in the presence of bFGF than that in the absence of bFGF(P<0.05). In the presence of bFGF, configuration of collagenous fibersis appearced to be in a better order under electron microscope. Chondrocytes grown in absence of bFGF assumed gradual fibroblast configuration after confluent culture, but chondrocytes were Strikingly similar to normal chondrocytes in the presence of bFGF. It can be concluded that bFGF exerts a strong effect on stabilization of phenotypes of cultured chondrocytes and can stimulate the collagen synthesis.

Key words: bFGF, chondrocyte, cell culture, collagen, cell phenotype