RESORPTION OF CORALS IMPLANTED IN-DIFFUSION CHAMBERS

Natural coral is a resorbable bone substitute currently used in osseou s surgery. The action of cellular and interstitial fluids has been inc riminated as a possible agent for coral resorption but it has not been possible to discriminate the importance of either factor. The aim of this study was to compare the resorption speed of the coral implant in contact only with biological fluids (coral dishes placed inside diffu sion chambers closed with two filter membranes 1.2 mu m pore size) or in contact with biological fluids and cells (coral dishes placed insid e diffusion chambers closed with the above filters but with holes made with a 22 G needle or coral dishes in direct contact with soft tissue ). Qualitative (SEM) and quantitative (gravimetric) results showed tha t the implants in contact with cells were resorbed faster than those i n contact only with biological fluids. The cells in contact with the i mplant were mainly multinucleated giant cells and some were Trap +.TEI VI showed multinucleated cells with a ruffled border but without a cle ar zone or intracytoplasmic inclusions distinguishing them from osteoc lasts. With only biological fluids, the latter intervened to a moderat e extent in the resorption of coral implants in which the cellular act ion appears to be dominant. However, this action does not seem to be a ttributable to osteoclasts.