ABSTRACT
Titanium net (meshes) with excellent mechanical properties can promote bone compatibility and has been used as a repairing material for bone defects in clinical settings. In the present study, using spiral computed tomography (CT) and histomorphological techniques, we investigated the effect of a novel kind of titanium web with a three-dimensional (3D) porous structure on bone formation in rabbit skull (os parietal) defect. The images from the spiral CT scan demonstrate that the titanium web is completely fused with the surrounding bone tissue, even at the first month after implantation. The histomorphological findings show that different cells and tissues, including osseous tissue, connective tissue, and adipose cells, can easily grow into the 3D scaffold meshes of the titanium web, even in the center of the web and combine together as a whole body, suggesting that the titanium web possesses a very good biocompatibility, which is beneficial to the growth of bone tissue and promotes healing of the defected rabbit skull.
Subject(s)
Bone Regeneration , Orthopedic Procedures/instrumentation , Parietal Bone/surgery , Surgical Mesh , Tissue Scaffolds , Titanium , Animals , Equipment Design , Osseointegration , Parietal Bone/diagnostic imaging , Parietal Bone/pathology , Porosity , Rabbits , Time Factors , Tomography, Spiral ComputedABSTRACT
We have developed two new types of bipolar cuff microelectrodes (volume size, 2-3 mm(3)) using electro-conductive rubber or water-absorbent polymer, either of which can be applied to measure sympathetic nerve activity in small animals. A renal nerve bundle of an anesthetized rat was inserted into the center hole of the electrode (diameter, 0.15 mm) through a slit and had good contact with the electrodes. Renal sympathetic nerve activity, which was verified by sympathetic ganglionic blockade, could be recorded using either type of implantable cuff electrode.
