Presence of Cells in Fresh-Frozen Allogeneic Bone Grafts from Different Tissue Banks

Bone replacement materials have been widely used to reconstruct atrophic jawbones. Based on previous reports demonstrating the presence of viable cells in bone blocks even after processing by musculoskeletal tissue banks for orthopedic use, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of cells in bone blocks from three Brazilian tissue banks for maxillary reconstructions. All samples were processed by the respective tissue banks, according to the guidelines of the Brazilian National Sanitary Surveillance Agency. Three samples were removed from each block for subsequent histological processing and stained using hematoxylin & eosin. Further evaluation included section staining by the Feulgen method and ultrastructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Light microscopy images from all bone samples showed presence of osteocyte-like cells in all groups and intense Feulgen staining, demonstrating presence of DNA in bone even after tissue processing. The ultrastructural analysis showed red blood cells in lacunae within the bone tissue. In conclusion, despite bone tissue processing by the musculoskeletal tissue banks, cells may be found within the bone used for allogeneic grafts.