Mechanical properties and hydroxyproline content of connective tissue in porous ceramic implants

The present study describes a model applying ceramic implants (A1203) for in vivo studies of connective tissue regeneration. Two types of implants have been developed: a one-piece model for histological examination and chemical analyses, and a two-piece implant which can also be used for mechanical testing of connective tissue. When these were implanted subcutaneoulsly on the back of rats, a correlation was found between the mechanical strength and the hydroxyproline content of connective tissue in the implants. The peak synthesis occurred between the 7th and the 14th day after implantation, and a plateau was reached for both strength-increases and hydroxyproline-formation between the 14th and the 21st days. For histological examination, the implants were embedded in plastic materials and prepared as hard tissue specimens. The model presented can be applied to study connective tissue regeneration in normal and pathological conditions, including studies of the effects of various drugs on the connective tissue.