INFLAMMATORY REACTION DEPENDENCE ON IMPLANT LOCALIZATION IN RAT SOFT-TISSUE MODELS

This study compares two different implantation models in soft tissue i n rat abdominal wall with regard to inflammatory reactions. Titanium r ods and discs, penetrating or not penetrating the peritoneal watt resp ectively, were implanted. After 3, 10 or 30 days the distribution of m onocytes/macrophages and cytokines (interleukin-1 and transforming gro wth factor-beta) in the tissue adjacent to the implants was investigat ed under immunohistochemistry. The macrophage-specific antibody, EDI, was used for the identification of newly recruited macrophages and the ED2 antibody was used for the mature tissue macrophages. After 10 day s the non-penetrating implants had a larger number of cells close to t he implant than the penetrating implants. The opposite was seen after 30 days implantation, with a larger number of cells around the penetra ting implants. At all time intervals the penetrating implants bad a th icker reactive capsule. The cytokines interleukin-1 beta and transform ing growth factor-beta could be detected in the reactive tissue adjace nt to both types of implants, without obvious differences for the two implant situations. The biocompatibility of a material appears to be i nfluenced by the localization of the implant. In addition, it seems to be of importance to extend the follow-up periods further, as we canno t assume that steady state is reached at 30 days implantation. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.