ABSTRACT
The capacity of three alloplastic implant materials to induce connective tissue was tested on the backs of 19 rats. A standardized viscous sponge served as control material. The commercial implant materials studied were carbon fibre and polypropylene ligament prostheses and a sponge composite of polytetrafluorethylene polymer and graphite fibre. Quantitative biochemical analyses (DNA, RNA, hydroxyproline and hexosamines) were done at 3 and 10 d, and 3, 6 and 9 wk post-operatively. Histological studies were done at 3, 6 and 9 wk. During the follow-up all the materials, when implanted subcutaneously, showed some capacity to induce ingrowth of granulation tissue. However, according to both quantitative chemical analyses and histological studies, the inductive capacity was greatest in the control sponge and in the polypropylene ligament prosthesis. In contrast, chemical analyses showed that the amount of granulation tissue developing during the follow-up was least in the rats with carbon fibre ligament implants.
