Subcutaneous‐induced membranes have no osteoinductive effect on macroporous HA‐TCP in vivo

Induced Membranes Technique was first described to enhance bone reconstruction of large osseous defects. Previous in vitro studies established their osteoinductive potential, due to the presence of opteoblasts precursors and to high amounts of growth factors contained within. The purpose of this study was to test in vivo the osteoinductive properties of induced membranes on a macroporous HA‐TCP in a nonosseous subcutaneous site. Subcutaneous‐induced membranes were obtained in 21 rabbits; 1 month later, the membranes were filled with a biphasic calcium phosphate material composed of 75% hydroxyapatite (HA) and 25% β‐tricalcium phosphate associated or not with autograft. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on membrane biopsies. Undecalcified and decalcified sections were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. ⁴⁵Ca uptake was observed and quantified on the sections using microimager analysis. Dense vascularity was found in the induced membranes. New bone formation was detected in the HA‐TCP + autograft samples and increased significantly from 3 to 6 months (p < 0.05). No bone was detected in the biomaterial graft alone in the induced membranes at any time. This study showed that induced membranes placed in a nonosseous site have no osteoinductive properties on a macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate biomaterial. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:155–161, 2009