THE USE OF BONE-MARROW-DERIVED FIBROBLASTOID CELLS AND FRESH BONE-MARROW IN THE TREATMENT OF BONE DEFECTS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Bone-marrow aspirate (containing bone progenitor cells), in vitro expa nded autologous bone-marrow-derived stromal fibroblastoid cells, and a combination thereof were tested for the potential to fill bone defect s. They were compared to grafts of fresh autologous bone or allogeneic devitalized bone. Mandibular defects in rabbits were chosen for this study. The best results were obtained with a combination of in vitro e xpanded bone-marrow-derived stromal fibroblastoid cells and fresh auto logous bone marrow or fresh autologous marrow alone. The effects of th ese two grafts were similar to grafts of fresh autologous bone and sig nificantly superior to grafts of devitalized allogeneic bone providing only a bone matrix. The in vitro ex panded marrow stromal cells induc ed very significant bone ingrowth, and their effects were only slightl y inferior to fresh autologous bone but were superior to devitalized a llogeneic bone. These studies suggest that bone marrow is a good sourc e of osteogenic cells both for immediate transplantation and for in vi tro expansion and subsequent transplantation.