An experimental study of the dissemination of Titanium and Zirconium in the body

Metallic implants can generate and release titanium oxide (TiO2) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) to the tissues. These products can accumulate locally or disseminate systemically. The aim of the present study was to assess the distribution of TiO2 and ZrO2 administered intraperitoneally to rats. We used male Wistar rats of approximately 100 g body weight throughout the study. An intraperitoneal injection of a suspension of TiO2 or ZrO2 (16, 1600 and 16 x 10(3) mg/kg body weight) was administered. The animals were killed at 5-10 months post-administration by ether overdose. Samples of peritoneum, liver, kidney, lung and spleen were taken, fixed in formalin and routine processed for embedding in paraffin. One set of sections was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and another set was prepared unstained. The presence of titanium in the tissues was detected by X-ray diffraction crystallography. The histological analysis revealed the presence of abundant intracellular aggregates of metallic particles of Ti and Zr in peritoneum, liver, lung and spleen. The crystallographic study revealed the presence of anatasa. The dissemination of metallic particles from orthopedic or odontological implants would not be restricted to a local phenomenon. The particles also target vital organs. The distribution of these deposits over lengthy periods deserves meticulous attention given the clinical relevance of this phenomenon. (C) 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers.