Preliminary Observations on Bone Isografts within Diffusion Chambers.

Abstract

Subcutaneous transplantation into mice of bone isografts within diffusion chambers (which allow diffusion of nutrients and metabolites through a porous filter between host tissue and implant without the passage of cells) resulted in growth and proliferation of cells from the original transplant within the chamber. Differentiation of cells into bone or bone-like tissue occurred as early as 2 weeks after implantation, and exclusively within all chambers on the inner surface of the filter, on the surface of the original bone, and, occasionally as scattered islands within the newly-formed loose connective tissue. No new bone formation was observed on the exterior of the filter. It is suggested that the results obtained within the diffusion chambers are due to cell modulation rather than induction.