The aim of this study was to assess bone response to a novel matched modulus material using more rigid titanium as a control. Implants subjected to different loading conditions were retrieved from rabbit tibiae after various time intervals, and new bone growth was assessed by histomorphometric methods. Block face microscopy was employed for histologic purposes. From a statistical analysis of the histomorphometric results, it could be concluded that titanium implants encouraged the greatest overall amount of bone formation around them when they were unloaded, when they were loaded immediately, and after a healing period. Schlagwörter: bone, endosseous implant, histomorphometry, matched modulus, strain