PHENOTYPE EXPRESSION OF HUMAN BONE-CELLS CULTURED ON IMPLANT SUBSTRATES

Bone cells derived from the human jaw were cultured on titanium, titan ium coated with hydroxyapatite (THA) or with plasma spray (TPS) to stu dy the behaviour of the cells anchored to implant substrates. Bone cel ls were cultured in MEM with the addition of [H-3]-thymidine to evalua te cellular proliferation, and [H-3]-glucosamine to evaluate GAG synth esis and accumulation in the extra-cellular matrix (ECM). Moreover, to study the degradation of GAG bone cells were cultured in the presence of NH4Cl, an amine known to inhibit lysosomal activity. Our results s how that TPS is the substrate that favours both cellular proliferation and the accumulation of GAG in the ECM. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons , Ltd.