Histological evaluation of the osteogenic capacity of sclera.

Sclera was obtained from the eyes of New Zealand white rabbits and immediately stored at –79°C. Later, after thawing, a piece 4 mm square was implanted into each of the anterior chamber of 14 eyes and under the renal capsule of 28 kidneys of rabbits of the same strain, Allografts of skin, muscle or tendon were implanted subcapsularly in the contralateral kidneys as controls. Two animals were sacrificed postoperatively each week up to 4 weeks, 6 animals at 6 weeks, 4 each at 8 and 9 weeks and 6 at 12 weeks. Serial paraffin sections of the implants and host tissues were examined by light microscopy. Osteogenesis occurred in 7 of 12 implants of sclera implanted beneath the renal capsule at 6 and 12 weeks, but was not seen prior to 6 weeks or at 8 or 9 weeks. Osteogenesis did not occur in sclera implanted into the anterior chamber of the eye or in control implants.