We studied the influence of porous Al2O3 substrates on Ce-stabilized ZrO2-doped hydroxyapatite thin films morphology pulsed laser deposited on their top. The porosities of substrates were monitored by changing sintering temperatures and measured with a high pressure Hg porosimeter. The depositions were conducted in 50 Pa water vapors by multipulse ablation of the targets with an UV KrF* (lambda = 248 nm, tau similar to 25 ns) excimer laser. The surface morphology of synthesized nanostructures was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microcopy. Ca/P ratio within the range 1.67-1.70 was found for hydroxyapatite coatings by energy dispersive spectroscopy. The films were further seeded with mesenchymal stem cells for in vitro tests. The cells showed good attachment and spreading uniformly covering the entire surface of samples. The complexity of film morphology which is increasing with substrate porosity was shown to have a positive influence on cultivated cells density. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.