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Effects of locally applied vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF‐inhibitor to the rabbit tibia during distraction osteogenesis
Author(s) -
Eckardt Henrik,
Bundgaard Kristian G.,
Christensen Knud S.,
Lind Martin,
Hansen Ebbe S.,
Hvid Ivan
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-0266(02)00159-6
Subject(s) - vascular endothelial growth factor , angiogenesis , distraction osteogenesis , tibia , medicine , bone healing , blood flow , growth factor , endocrinology , distraction , vegf receptors , anatomy , biology , receptor , neuroscience
: Therapeutic angiogenesis, a novel concept in tissue engineering, is neo‐formation of blood vessels in a tissue upon delivery of an angiogenic growth factor to the tissue. We hypothesised that therapeutic angiogenesis could enhance bone formation and challenged the hypothesis in an experimental model of distraction osteogenesis. Methods : Rabbits, divided into three equal groups of 12, had their right tibia lengthened by distraction osteogenesis. A miniosmotic pump delivered to the osteotomy gap either recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF‐inhibitor, or vehicle alone during the latency and distraction phase. After consolidation, we assessed bone blood flow by radioactive microsphere entrapment, measured torsional stiffness and bone mineral content, and did histomorphometry. Results : VEGF and VEGF‐inhibitor treatment failed to influence bone blood flow, torsional stiffness, bone mineral content and histomorphometric indices of the bone regenerate. However, VEGF treatment increased the blood flow in bone of the distracted limb and VEGF‐inhibitor treatment decreased bone blood flow. Conclusion : The regenerate was unresponsive to VEGF and VEGF‐inhibitor treatment in contrast to the neighbouring bone, which implies different biological properties of the vasculature in native and regenerating bone. VEGF is not recommended for enhancement of bone formation in this setting. © 2002 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.