Effect of resorbable calcium aluminate ceramics on regulation of calcium and phosphorus in rats.

Ions released from resorbable ceramics could be toxic to the animal. Experiments were designed to study the effect of implanting three different weights of porous resorbable calcium aluminate ceramics (0.172, 0.332, and 0.504 g) in rats for a total duration of 300 days. Gross and microscopic examination of heart, liver, kidneys, trachea with thyroid, and muscle adjacent to the implant did not show any pathological changes. Calcium and inorganic phosphate content of bone, serum and urine were not affected by the implants. Urine hydroxyproline excretion did not change in the animals implanted with ceramics. Animals implanted with 0.332 g of ceramics had a significantly higher serum alkaline phosphatase activity than the control animals. Resorption of calcium and depositon of inorganic phosphates in the implanted ceramics suggested that ions were being exchanged with the body fluids. Implantation of 0.172 to 0.332 g porous resorbable calcium aluminate ceramic was not toxic to the animal.