Comparison of histomorphometry and 85Sr uptake in induced heterotopic bone in rats

Heterotopic bone formation in the abdominal muscle of 45 male 8-week-old Wistar rats induced by implantation of 5, 10, or 15 mg demineralized bone (DBM) powder was evaluated at 4 weeks by 85Sr uptake of the implants and area histomorphometry of the induced bone. Two indices of 85Sr uptake were calculated: the osteogenic index [(counts/min/mg implant)/(counts/min/mg os ilium)] and an index that we have called the osteoquantum index in which the weight of the implant is disregarded [(counts/min implant)/(counts/min/mg os ilium)]. The osteoquantum index showed a linear relationship to the area of the induced bone with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.90. Only weak linear relationships were found between the osteogenic index and the area of the bone (r = 0.32) and between the osteogenic index and the osteoquantum index (r = 0.33). The osteoquantum index and the area of the induced bone both increased with increasing mass of implanted DBM, whereas the osteogenic index did not change.