Tissue response of an osteoinductive bioceramic in bone defect rabbit model

HA/TCP and HA rods (?5 mm×10 mm) were made for implantation in New Zealand white rabbit with different condition. Sixty three rabbit were divided into three groups: group 1 (n=18), group 2 (n=27) and group 3 (n=18). In group 1, 10 mm radius was defected, and one HA/TCP rod was implanted in the muscle a distant away from the bone defect area. In group 2, also, 10 mm radius was defected, one HA rod was implanted in the muscle a distant away from the bone defect area. In group 3, two HA/TCP rods were implanted in the dorsal muscle of the rabbit with bone intact. Histological observation showed that in group 1, some new bone was found only two months after implantation (n=2), and obvious immature woven bone could be observed in these bioceramics from the 3^rd month on. However, in group 3, bone began to be found 6 months after implantation (n=2). In group 2, we could not find any bone tissue up to 9 month’s observation. These results suggest that, first, the bone defect model could significantly accelerate bone formation at non-osseous sites in rabbits; second,. HA/TCP bioceramics were confirmed with osteoinductive property while HA bioceramics without osteoinductive property nearly. Thus, bone defect might be a good animal model for further researches for osteoinductive bioceramics.