2014 年 12 巻 1 号 p. 13-19
Noble fibrous porous apatite disks have recently been produced. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of porous apatite disks as osteo-conductive absorbable bio-material by using animal model. Critical-size bone defects were generated in the cranial bones of six Wistar rats, in which porous apatite disks (6 x 1 mm) were implanted. Micro-computed tomography (CT) revealed that mean opacity values of the cranial defect zones implanted with porous apatite disks significantly increased from 3 days to 4 weeks (p < 0.01); but was similar between at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks. After feeding for 8 weeks, the rats were sacrificed. Histological observations revealed that porous apatite disks implanted in rat cranial defect zones for 8 weeks were partially absorbed, while new bone was formed in and near the bio-absorbed regions. Taken together, it was considered that porous apatite disks could be employed as new osteo-conductive and slightly-absorbable bone substitute materials.
