Ectopic osteogenesis of ostrich hydroª²xyapatite ceramic loaded with bone marrow stromal cells

    YANG Yaoª²Wu, MAO Tianª²Qiu, HOU Rui, GAO Zhan, CAO Qiang, YANG Shuª²Yong, SUN Wenª²Bin

    Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¡¯an 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM£º To observe the osteogenesis of ostrich hydroxyapatite ceramic loaded with bone marrow stromal cells in a nude mice model. METHODS: Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were obtained by harvesting the cancellous bone from the iliac crest of a rabbit. The BMSCs were isolated, expanded, induced in vitro and seeded in the ostrich hydroxyapatite (OHA) ceramic scaffolds. The OHA/BMSCs composites were implanted subcutaneously into the backs of nude mice. Implantation of OHA alone was used as control. At 3 and 6 weeks after implantation, the specimens were harvested and the osteogenetic activity was evaluated by gross and histological observation. RESULTS: At 3 weeks after implantation, a large amount of immature bone composed mainly of cartilaginous bone formed in the surface and pores of the ceramics. At 6 weeks after implantation, much more mature bone had formed than before. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts were seen between the scaffolds and the local bone in the transition area and blood vessels and multinucleated cells were seen in some places. The endochondral bone formation pattern was observed. CONCLUSION: The OHA/BMSCs composites have good osteogenetic activity. This study suggests that OHA ceramics can be used as a bone tissue engineering scaffold. ......