Bone formation at implant surfaces may be directly influenced by effects of the implant material on osteoblast behavior. Cell culture models of osteoblast physiology may be used to investigate the interaction of osteoblastic cells with various surfaces. In this study, primary cultured fetal bovine mandibular osteoblastic cells were cultured on titanium, ceramic hydroxyapatite, and glass coverslip surfaces to allow for the comparison of the mineralizing matrix elaborated by osteoblasts grown on different implant material surfaces. Morphologic and immunohistochemical analysis revealed the similar formation of multilayered, mineralizing cultures on these three surfaces. The qualitative similarity of the matrix formed on these culture surfaces may reflect similar qualitative in vivo responses of bone to titanium and hydroxyapatite implants. Schlagwörter: cell culture, hydroxyapatite, immunohistochemistry, implants, osteoblast, titanium, transmission electron microscopy