Unloaded cylindrical grit-blasted titanium (Ti-6A-4V) implants (6 x 10 mm) coated with hydroxyapatite ceramic were inserted into the proximal part of the humerus of 20 skeletally mature Labrador dogs. The implants were initially surrounded by a 2 mm gap. In 10 dogs, HA-coated implants without growth factor were inserted in one humerus and implants with 0.3 microgram rhTGF-beta 1 adsorbed onto the HA coating were inserted in the contralateral humerus. In another group of 10 dogs, a dose of 3.0 micrograms rhTGF-beta 1 was tested in a similar design. All dogs were killed at 6 weeks after treatment. Results were evaluated by histomorphometry and mechanical push-out testing. Bone ongrowth was increased by one third, using the 0.3 mg rhTGF-beta 1 stimulation. Bone volume in the gap and mechanical testing showed no statistically significant differences between control and rhTGF-beta 1 stimulated implants. RhTGF-beta 1 only moderately enhanced bone ongrowth to hydroxyapatite-coated implants.