Natural coral and structurally similar porous hydroxyapatite (HA) have been used as bone substitutes. They are not osteoinductive but bone formation can be induced by marrow cells, even in extraosseal sites. In our previous study we induced bone formation in porous coral and HA after having implanted the materials in intramuscular pockets in rat. New bone formed only in HA or coral implants soaked with marrow cells; fibrous tissue ingrowth alone was observed in the controls (without marrow).