[Porous hydroxylapatite ceramics with homologous osteoblasts from cell cultures for bone replacement]

In an animal model using 24 inbred Lewis rats the effect of the simultaneous implantation of in vitro cultivated osteoblasts and a porous hydroxyl apatite ceramic material on bone regenerations was studied. Bone tissue was harvested from 2 inbred rats and a cell line of osteoblasts was established. The osteoblasts were multiplied in cell cultures and after 3 passages inserted along with granular HA into monocortical femur defects in 24 rats of the same inbred line. After various times of observation the femurs were examined radiographically and bone growth was assessed histologically. No significant increase in bone growth rate was observed, although earlier studies in the same model showed a marked qualitative effect of reimplanted in vitro cultured osteoblasts on new bone formation. Considering that pre-incubation largely reduces the toxic effect of HA ceramics, the results of this study indicate that the activity of the implanted osteoblasts in the defect is prevented by the simultaneous implantation of replacement material and cells.