OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the osteogenesis of bone substitute materials. METHODS: 52 Chbb: ch rabbits were divided into 5 groups. Five different porous biomaterials, including natural bovine hydroxyapatite (Bio-OSS, BK V/1), semi-synthetic coral hydroxyapatite interpore 500, synthetic tricalcium phosphate CEROS 82 and glass POROLITH, were implanted together with free periosteum into the muscle of rabbits for up to 3 and 6 weeks. Undecalcified sections were prepared for microradiography, light and UV microscopy, and morphometry. RESULTS: Bone ingrowth was present in all such implantats. Bone formation was limited to the periphery of the Ceros blocks, that are lack of pore interconnection, while the other 4 materials with an interconnected porous system were infiltrated by bone into the centrum. Planimetric analyses showed that the specimens were composed of 6.5%-19.0% new bone at the 3rd week and 14.2%-25% at the 6th week respectively. The difference of bone ingrowth was only significant between Bio-OSS and BK V/1 at the 3rd week. No statistically significant difference of bone volume was found within the 6 week groups. There was a positive correlation between the new bone volume and the porosity of the materials. CONCLUSION: For the bone ingrowth, the structure of the materials, specifically the pore and pore interconnections, is more impatant than the chemical composition.