Studies on the osteogenetic capacity of the periosteum

1. A comparison of the osteogenetic capacity with the periosteum from corpus ulnae of antebrachium of the young and adult rabbits

Abstract

There have long been arguments on the existence or otherwise of a periosteal osteogenic capacity.
In more recent experiments many investigaters have supported this concept. However, few studies have been made on this capacity in the aged.
The purpose of this paper is to restudy osteogenic capacity in the periosteum and to compare differences in this capacity with advancing age.
Japanese white rabbits were divided into 3 groups by age; 1-month, 1-year and 1 1/2 year old periosteum was removed from the shaft of the ulna and immediately free grafted into muscle of the anterior forearm. Samples from these animals were examined by X-ray and light microscope.
The following results were obtained;
1) New bone formation in the grafted periosteum occurred in 42 (70%) out of 60 cases.
2) The developmental stage of new bone formation was more rapid in young rabbits than in adult ones.
The results of these experiments indicate that the periosteum has an osteogenic capacity, greater in younger rabbits.