Chondrocytes in Agarose: Cell Damage and the Pericellular Matrix

Chondrocytes occupy 2% to 5% of the volume of articular cartilage [1] and are responsible for maintenance of the tissue. In adult life, the healing and repair capacity of chondrocytes is very limited, and the loss of chondrocytes that is often occurring at an early stage of cartilage degeneration is detrimental to articular cartilage. Excessive loading is known to be a cause of cell death.