In vivo calcification induced by a proteolipid complex (lysozyme-acidic phospholipid).

A synthetically prepared proteolipid complex was inserted into experimentally produced osseous wounds in the tibias of rats. Similar control wounds were made in the humeri and no proteolipid was inserted. At 7-day intervals for 28 days, rats were sacrificed and both the control and experimental sites were evaluated by gross inspection after the overlying soft tissues had been surgically removed. Specimens were then processed for histologic evaluation employing a Zeiss Videoplan Image Analysis System with Osteoplan for quantitative bone morphometrics. At the 7 and 14 day levels, the rate of osseous wound healing at the experimental sites greatly exceeded the rate at the control sites (p less than 0.0005). By 21 days the experimental areas still showed an accelerated healing response compared with the controls (p less than 0.005). By 28 days the experimental and the control wounds demonstrated almost complete osseous healing.