The subcutaneous implantation of xenogeneic decalcified teeth

Decalcified matrices obtained from bone and dentin have been used in xenogeneic implantation experiments. It is observed that such implants generally do not induce new bone but in many cases result in recalcification of old matrices. Treatment of the matrices with the enzyme inhibitor, iodoacetic acid, prior to implantation also did not enhance or improve the osteoinductive potentiality of these matrices. It is therefore suggested that the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to which the osteoinductive potentiality has been attributed by Urist et al. is a highly species-specific moiety and that the xenogeneic implant is hence a poor choice for its determination.