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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials
Published on: August 13, 2019
Ossicle and vossicle implant model systems
Glenda J Pettway1, Laurie K McCauley
1Departments of Periodontics & Oral Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Abstract:
Bone regeneration and repair is a goal of many skeletal therapies and numerous agents positively or negatively impact these processes. New therapeutic agents and effective model systems are continually sought to identify agents and characterize their mechanisms of action are in constant demand. In addition, investigations of tumor cell-bone interaction in the skeletal metastatic microenvironment require well-defined and readily orchestrated models. This chapter describes a novel ectopic ossicle model and a vossicle modification that can be used to provide focused and rapid feedback of bone growth and bone-cellular interactions. The ossicle model is a bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC)-based model and the vossicle model is a neonatal vertebral bone transplant model. These models offer opportunities to mix and compare mesenchymal (donor derived) and hematopoietic elements (host derived). Multiple implants can be placed in one mouse to facilitate various outcome analyses, such as histomorphometry, micro-CT, gene expression studies, and cell tracking using markers such as luciferase, in response to pharma cological or genetic manipulation. Implants can also be combined with other cell types, such as cancer cells to evaluate the bone-tumor microenvironment.
Insights
Researchers developed novel ectopic ossicle and vossicle models for studying bone regeneration and tumor interactions. These models enable rapid assessment of bone growth and cellular mechanisms in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Skeletal Biology and Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
- Oncology and Cancer Biology
Background:
- Bone regeneration is crucial for skeletal therapies, requiring effective models to study therapeutic agents and mechanisms.
- Investigating tumor cell-bone interactions within the skeletal metastatic microenvironment necessitates well-defined and controllable experimental systems.
- Current models often lack the ability to rapidly assess bone growth and cellular dynamics in response to various manipulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and describe novel ectopic ossicle and vossicle models for studying bone regeneration and cellular interactions.
- To provide a platform for comparing mesenchymal and hematopoietic elements in bone repair and regeneration.
- To facilitate the evaluation of bone-tumor microenvironments using these adaptable models.
Main Methods:
- Development of an ectopic ossicle model based on bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs).
- Creation of a vossicle model using neonatal vertebral bone transplants.
- Utilizing multiple implants per mouse for analyses including histomorphometry, micro-CT, gene expression, and cell tracking (e.g., luciferase).
- Incorporation of cancer cells into models to study the bone-tumor microenvironment.
Main Results:
- The ossicle and vossicle models provide focused and rapid feedback on bone growth and bone-cellular interactions.
- These models allow for the comparison of donor-derived mesenchymal and host-derived hematopoietic elements.
- The models are amenable to pharmacological or genetic manipulation and integration with other cell types, such as cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- The novel ossicle and vossicle models offer versatile and efficient systems for investigating bone regeneration, repair, and skeletal pathologies.
- These models facilitate detailed mechanistic studies of bone biology and the skeletal metastatic microenvironment.
- The adaptability of these models supports diverse research applications, from therapeutic agent screening to cancer metastasis research.
