[Isografts in middle ear surgery -- a histological and autoradiographic study (author's transl)]

Bone and cartilage isografts were implanted into the bullae of rats. Since there is no histoincompatibility between isogeneic animals this transplantation can be used as a model for studying autografts. The donor animal was labelled with H3-glycine. This amino acid appears in the intercellular substance of bone and cartilage. After grafting changes in the labelling pattern can be followed, by autoradiography. In bone grafts it remains unchanged until the intercellular substance is removed by osteoclastic cells and is partly reutilized in new bone formation. In cartilage grafts which did not remain totally vital the labelling pattern appeared unchanged during the time of observation. In areas of new formation cartilage, no activity could be demonstrated.