Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 1000-1005, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Migration, attachment, and orientation of human gingival fibroblasts to root slices, naked and porous-surfaced titanium alloy discs, and Zircalloy 2 discs in vitro
B. F. Lowenberg, R. M. Pilliar, J. E. Aubin, G. R. Fernie and A. H. Melcher
Cell migration, attachment, and orientation of cultured human gingival
fibroblasts (HGF) were measured in relation to four types of specimens:
Ti-6Al-4V alloy discs with either ground surfaces or porous structured
surfaces, and Zr alloy discs (Zircalloy 2) with either ground surfaces or
surfaces modified by being heated to form a thicker oxide cover.
Surface-demineralized and non-demineralized root slices were used as
controls. Initial cell attachment was measured by means of a 51Cr assay,
and cell attachment and orientation following migration by an assay that
measures development of the resulting refractile material in relation to
the specimen. No significant difference between initial cell attachment to
Ti alloy and control demineralized root slices could be detected after one
hr using the 51Cr assay. However, with the second assay, cell attachment
and orientation at three, seven, 10, and 14 days were significantly higher
in relation to surface-demineralized root slices than to all of the metal
discs and the non-demineralized root slices. While cell attachment to the
surface-ground Ti alloy discs appeared to be higher than that to the
porous-surfaced Ti alloy discs at three days and seven days, cell
orientation to the porous-surfaced Ti alloy discs and the non-demineralized
root slices at days 7, 10, and 14 was greater than that to all of the other
metal discs. These data suggest that surface geometry could affect
attachment and orientation of cells in vitro.
