[Application of elemental microanalysis for estimation of osteoinduction and osteoconduction of hydroxyapatite bone implants]

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics based on calcium phosphates, chemical compounds being natural constructive element of bones is now regarded to be one of better implantation materials in osseous surgery and stomatology. HAp is poorly soluble and slowly resorbing in tissues material. Easiness of connecting of hydroxyapatite ceramics with other materials creates possibilities to produce new composites of chemical compounds containing calcium and easier resorbing. An important and till now not fully known problem is influence of hydrodroxyapatite grafts on the processes leading to production of calcium and phosphorus ions responsive for mineralization of bone tissue around the graft. Proliferation of osteoblasts and rate of osseous trabeculas production depends, among others, concentration of calcium and phosphorus ions. The main target of this study was the comparative analysis of the bone mineralisation rate after implantation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and composites hydroxyapatite + beta tricalcium phosphate (HAp + TCP) and hydroxyapatite + calcium hydrosulfate (HAp + gypsum), on the basis of elemental microanalysis. Implantation studies were carried out on 24 rabbits. Sections were carried out 5, 9, 11 and 14 weeks after implantation of the tested materials. The carried out punctual analysis of the occurring elements and their topographic location (mapping) in bones after implantation showed essential differences among the tested grafts. Those differences were most significant after 5 and 14 weeks and depended on the rate of the tested materials resorption. On the basis of conducted macroscopic evaluation and scanning microscope assessment we can stated that the composite of HAp+TCP showed the best osteocunductive properties, while the best osteoinductive influence was shown by the composite HAp + gypsum.

[Comparative evaluation of TNF-alpha induction in vitro and in local tissue reaction after implantation of HAP/TCP and HAP]

The aim of this work was the evaluation of biocompatibility and bioactivity of HAP/TCP as compared to HAP. This evaluation was carried out by the in vitro assessment of the induction of TNF-alpha in the rat blood after the contact with the tested HAP. The anther target was to investigate of local muscle tissue reaction of rats bones reaction of rabbits, after the implantation of tested materials. The level of TNF-alpha was estimated by biological method in the supernatants of rat blood cell cultures stimulated in vitro by tested materials. The implantation assessment was carried out on 25 rats and 15 rabbits. The muscle tissue reaction was evaluated after 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks, while the reaction of bones after 4, 12, and 26 weeks since the implantation. The level of TNF-alpha in the blood after stimulation in vitro with HAP/TCP was on the same level as control group. The implantation of HAP the level of TNF-alpha was twice as high as compared to HAP/TCP and control groups. These differences were of statically importance. The muscle tissue reaction after implantation of HAP/TCP was characterized by moderate inflammation during the early period which lead to the formation of two layer connective tissue capsule. In the capsule wall there were great cells of foreign body type and macrophages. In the cytoplasm of some the cells particles of HAP were noted, what could be regarded as the proof of its resorption. In the bone tissue surrounded HAP/TCP implants the stronger osteoconductive proprieties were observed as compared to the tissue around HAP.

Postmeiotic segregation in locus "46" of Ascobolus immersus

White-spored mutants ofAscobolus immersuswere used to study postmeiotic segregation within a gene. It was found that in two-point crosses between mutants showing postmeiotic segregation, polarization in recombinant asci resulting from this type of segregation resembled that in normal (even-type) conversion. However, the ratio of recombinant asci with even segregation (6:2 asci) to those with odd segregation (7:1 asci) was much higher than might have been expected on the basis of the frequencies of various recombinant asci found in crosses between the same mutants and the wild-type strain. It seems that none of the current models of recombination gives a satisfactory explanation of the results obtained.