Mineral and collagen content of human ossicles

With increased use of human otologic homograft tissue for implantation, different preservation techniques and products are used for storing and preserving the grafts before surgery. Preserved ossicles may, according to some authors, already exhibit signs of decalcification after 2 weeks. Therefore, the mineral (calcium, phosphorus) and collagen content of human ossicles (incus) and mastoid cortex and the influence of different storage techniques was biochemically investigated. No significant mineral or collagen-concentration changes were observed after a 6-week storage in pH-7 formaldehyde or in cialit, in either the ossicles or in the cortical bone. These biochemical findings are in agreement with histologic observations and with similar experiments using the photon absorptiometry technique.