[Osteoid induction].

Osteoinduction is a biological principle. The implantation of tissue with inductive properties results in the proliferation and differentiation of undifferentiated cells to cartilage and bone. This process, which is similar to a cascade-type mechanism, is controlled by a series of humoral and local growth factors. It was possible to isolate a number of macromolecular substances with osteoinductive, mitogenic, or chemotactic properties specifically from the extracellular bone matrix. A deeper understanding of the regulative mechanisms as well as the greater availability of growth factors may lead to new therapeutic approaches in bone surgery.