Multinucleated giant cells elicited around hydroxyapatite particles implanted in craniotomy defects are not osteoclasts.
BACKGROUND
The nature of the multinucleated giant cells (MNGC) elicited in contact with implantable biomaterials is still indecisive.


METHODS
In Wistar rats the MNGC recruited after the implantation of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles in standardized skull defects were examined morphologically (at both the light and electron microscope levels), enzymatically (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase), and after a challenge with salmon calcitonin.


RESULTS
The MNGC were of great size and contained abundant mitochondria, vacuoles, and vesicles throughout the cytoplasm; they were either tightly apposed to the HA surface or had long and thin processes penetrating the material. When processed for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, only a few cells were weakly stained. The staining was totally suppressed when samples were pretreated with cyanuric chloride in the MNGC but not in the host osteoclasts. Calcitonin induced the withdrawal of the host osteoclasts from the bone surface while the MNGC remained in contact with the HA material.


CONCLUSIONS
The MNGC recruited to HA particles did not exhibit the morphologic, enzymatic and functional characteristics of the osteoclasts, and consequently must be regarded as macrophage polykaryons.
Dersot
J M
JM
Laboratoire de Biologie et Biomatériaux du Milieu Buccal et Osseux, Montrouge, France.
Colombier
M L
ML
Lafont
J
J
Baroukh
B
B
Septier
D
D
Saffar
J L
JL
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002516:Ceramics / Q000633:toxicity; D003399:Craniotomy; D017886:Durapatite / Q000633:toxicity*; D015743:Giant Cells, Foreign-Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002116:Calcitonin; D017886:Durapatite; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase