Fate of Homologous and Isologous Fresh and Stored Bone Transplanted to the Anterior Eye Chambers of Inbred Mice

¹ Department of Anatomy, University of Texas Dental Branch, Houston, Texas

Without the procedure of prior storage, homologous and isologous bone fragments were transplanted directly to the anterior eye chambers of mice of Strong A and Balb/c strains and observed for 51 days. Similar bone fragments were stored in tissue fluid (both homologous and isologous) for 40 days at 5° C. and then transplanted to the anterior eye chambers of mice of Strong A and Balb/c strains and observed for 36 days.

The immediate isologous transplants developed a visible blood supply. The absorption of alizarin red S indicated the growth of new bone. There was also uptake in some non-vascularized transplants in animals injected with alizarin.

No visible absorption of alizarin red S occurred in the transplants using the stored-bone fragments, indicating no bone-forming activity. We are basing our conclusions upon the fact that alizarin red S is a vital stain that may be used in determining the growth of bone in non-osseous transplantation sites.