OBJECTIVE: In order to develop new middle ear prostheses for ossicular reconstruction it is important to study how the recipient middle ear tissues, especially the stapes footplate and superstructure, react to the implanted biomaterial. In this respect, animal studies and cell cultures using non-specific cells are of limited value. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The morphology and growth pattern of cells cultured from human stapes were studied. Cultured cells were examined for the presence of alkaline phosphatase and were processed for immunocytochemistry in order to detect the presence of osteocalcine. Fibroblast cultures served as controls. RESULTS: Cultured stapes cells proliferated in a polygonal-cubic shape and without any regular pattern in the culture. These cells were shown to contain alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcine. Cultured fascia fibroblasts proliferated in a spindle-shaped form and in a pattern resembling a shoal of fish. Cultured fibroblasts did not contain alkaline phosphatase or osteocalcine. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to culture osteoblasts from human stapes. These cells can be characterized as osteoblast-like cells by means of their external shape and the presence of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcine. Using these cultures, specific in vitro investigations concerning the interaction of biomaterials and middle ear ossicles could be performed.
OBJECTIVE: In order to develop new middle ear prostheses for ossicular reconstruction it is important to study how the recipient middle ear tissues, especially the stapes footplate and superstructure, react to the implanted biomaterial. In this respect, animal studies and cell cultures using non-specific cells are of limited value. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The morphology and growth pattern of cells cultured from human stapes were studied. Cultured cells were examined for the presence of alkaline phosphatase and were processed for immunocytochemistry in order to detect the presence of osteocalcine. Fibroblast cultures served as controls. RESULTS: Cultured stapes cells proliferated in a polygonal-cubic shape and without any regular pattern in the culture. These cells were shown to contain alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcine. Cultured fascia fibroblasts proliferated in a spindle-shaped form and in a pattern resembling a shoal of fish. Cultured fibroblasts did not contain alkaline phosphatase or osteocalcine. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to culture osteoblasts from human stapes. These cells can be characterized as osteoblast-like cells by means of their external shape and the presence of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcine. Using these cultures, specific in vitro investigations concerning the interaction of biomaterials and middle ear ossicles could be performed.