Prevascularization of tissue-engineered bone grafts promotes repair of femoral bone defects in rats / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of prevascularized tissue-engineered bone graft on regeneration of femoral bone defects in rats.Methods Models of femoral bone defect were created at the bilateral hind limbs of 20 healthy female 10 week-old rats which were divided into 2 even groups randomly (n =10).In group A,conventional tissue-engineered bone grafts were transplanted into the femoral bone defects;in group B,tissue-engineered bone grafts and vascular bundles were implanted into the femoral defects.At 1,4 and 8 weeks after operation,3 rats were sacrificed each time in each group to harvest samples.The remaining one in each group served as a spare animal.Regeneration of bone defects and degradation of scaffolds were assessed by radiologic modality and hematein eosin staining.Results At week 1,the new bone ratio (BV/TV) was 5.47％ ± 1.90％ in group A and 8.49％ ± 1.26％ in group B,showing no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05);at weeks 4 & 8,the BV/TV were 17.54％ ±2.04％ and 39.73％ ± 4.01％ in group A,significantly lower than those in group B (25.32％ ± 2.15％ and 53.22％ ± 2.94％) (P ＜ 0.05).At weeks 1 & 4,the scaffold degradation ratios (RSV/SV) were 97.33％ ± 2.52％ and 80.60％ ±4.00％,showing no significant differences from those in group B (95.67％ ±3.51％ and 75.22％ ±6.20％) (P ＞ 0.05).At week 8,the scaffold degradation ratio in group A (65.46％ ±4.51％) was significantly higher than that in group B (50.19％ ±4.91％) (P ＜ 0.05).At week 8,hematein eosin staining showed better integration of scaffolds with the femur,faster degradation of the interior scaffolds and greater osteogenetic activity in group B.Conclusion Prevascularization of tissue-engineered bone graft may increase new bone volume and scaffold degradation rate,promoting repair of femoral bone defects in rats.