Osteocytes, the most abundant cells in bone, have multiple functions including acting as mechanosensors and regulating mineralization. Recently, osteocytes have been found to play a commanding role in bone metabolism process — regulating the activities of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts and therefore urging the need for further research. Determining the relationship(s) between titanium implants and osteocytes may therefore benefit our understanding of the process of osseointegration. The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between osteocytes and the titanium implant surface following osseointegration in vivo.
Method:
Titanium implants were placed in the maxillary first molar area of eight female Sprague Dawley rats, aged 3 months old. The animals were sacrificed 8 weeks after implantation and undecalcified tissue sections were prepared. Resin-cast samples were subsequently acid-etched with 37% phosphoric acid prior to examination using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Result:
Compared with mature bone where the osteocytes were arranged in an ordered fashion, the osteocytes appeared less organized in the newly formed bone around the titanium implant. Further, a layer of mineralization with less organic components was observed on the implant surface. This study has shown for the first time that osteocytes and their dendrites were directly connected with the implant surface.
Conclusion:
This study shows the direct anchorage of osteocytes via dendritic processes to a titanium implant surface in vivo. This suggests an important regulatory role for osteocytes in maintaining long term osseointegration..