In vitro method for 3D morphometry of human articular cartilage chondrons based on micro-computed tomography

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were: to 1) develop a novel sample processing protocol to visualize human articular cartilage (AC) chondrons using micro-computed tomography (μCT), 2) develop and validate an algorithm to quantify the chondron morphology in 3D, and 3) compare the differences in chondron morphology between intact and osteoarthritic AC.MethodThe developed protocol is based on the dehydration of samples with hexamethyldisilazane...