The osteo-inductive properties of bone matrix from rats pretreated with indomethacin.

Decalcified bone matrix pieces were prepared from growing rats treated for 3 weeks with subcutaneous injections of indomethacin 2 mg/kg/day or saline, and implanted into growing rats. Of the 16 recipients with 'saline implants', 8 received saline and another 8 indomethacin 2 mg/kg/day in subcutaneous injections. In another 16 recipients with 'indomethacin implants', 8 received saline and 8 indomethacin. As in previous studies, it was found that indomethacin exerted a mild inhibition of new bone formation expressed as decreased amount of ash weight in implants. The amount of ash weight and 45Ca specific activity of implants in recipients with implants from indomethacin-treated donor animals was not altered. These findings indicate that indomethacin is unable to modify the osteo-inductive properties of bone matrix.