BONE DESTRUCTION BY MULTINUCLEATED GIANT CELLS 



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Fig. 1. Avitogenous devitalized bone after 2 weeks of implantation. A num- 

 ber of giant cells (arrows) are seen especially toward the ends of the bones. 

 Note associated cellular reaction. Hematoxylin and eosin. (X 350.) 



Fig. 2. Autogenous bone decalcified before implantation which subse- 

 quently recalcified (black areas). Implant was removed after 3 weeks. Note 

 giant cell in Howship's lacuna, and the nuclei on the periphery away from the 

 bone. Von Kossa, hematoxylin and eosin. ( X 350.) 



about this time (Fig. 1). Some of the bones slowly recalcified 

 after implantation, as could be seen in the von Kossa and Gomori 

 sections. Before this happened, however, giant cells were seen in 

 many places in contact with uncalcilied surfaces. Later, as calcifica- 

 tion became more extensive, these cells attacked uncalcified and 

 calcified bone indiscriminately (Fig. 2). A number of macrophages 

 which had engulfed trypan blue were seen around all the implants, 



