Autogenous transplantation of the nasal septum cartilage in the rat

Increase in size of autotransplanted cartilagenous nasal septum was investigated in rats. The implants were inserted at birth and removed, measured and processed for histological examination after varying lengths of time. In all cases, the implants had increased in size and the growth activity was greatest in the first 2 weeks. Histologically the transplants had the same general appearance as septal cartilage from control animals, and no difference was observed in metachromasia between the autografts and septal cartilage from the control animals. The results support the view that the cartilagenous nasal septum has its own growth potential.