An in vitro model for studying growth and effect of trauma and external agents on the cricoid at the cellular level.

Over the past several years it has become evident that expansion laryngotracheal surgery is effective in the treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis. Several clinical and animal studies have been performed to study the process of laryngotracheal stenosis and its treatment. However, there are still many questions that cannot be addressed by currently used clinical and animal research. Further indepth study of the behavior of the subglottis at the cellular level is necessary. We present an in vitro model for studying chondrocyte metabolism of the bovine cricoid. Cartilage was successfully grown in an explant culture system, and it was shown that the chondrocytes were metabolically active and responded to external agents. This model will serve to study the mechanism of growth and effects of trauma and external agents on the cricoid at the cellular level.