Microcirculation in grafted bone. A chamber technique for vital microscopy of rabbit bone transplants

A method enabling in vivo observations of the microcirculation in orthotopically transplated bone in the rabbit is presented. The technique permits repeated study of a well-defined bone tissue compartment both before and after grafting to an autogenous or allogenous recipient site, respectively. It yields information about the reorganization of the microvascular system and the resorptive and formative processes of bone remodelling during incorporation of grafted bone. In the autologous experimental series, new capillaries were seen in the bone grafts 4 to 5 days after transplantation. No re-utilization of pre-existing graft vessels was observed.