An experimental study of osteogenesis in explants of rat dental pulp, periodontal ligament, bone marrow and muscle cells in vitro.

Cells of dental pulp, periodontal ligament, bone marrow and muscle derived from the same rat were cultured in vitro. Outgrowth of cells from these four explants were examined using phase-contrast microscope, light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, cell lengths were measured randomly from SEM photographs and growth curves were plotted by calculating cell numbers. These cells had different morphology in both shape and length. The bone marrow cells showed the most rapid proliferation rate followed by muscle, periodontal ligament and most slowly in dental pulp cells.