Evolution of substance P immunofluorescent nerves in callus tissue during fracture healing.
Tibial fractures were experimentally produced in rats. The fractures were allowed to heal spontaneously. Samples of callus tissue were studied by a specific immunohistochemical method for substance P, the peptide which is found in sensory nerves and probably plays a role in nociceptive nerve transmission. The control periosteum contained a rich network of substance P immunofluorescent nerves. The early callus tissue also contained such sensory nerves, the peak frequency of which was at the end of the second week. It is proposed that the substance P-containing nerves play a protective nociceptive role during fracture healing.
D000818:Animals; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014945:Wound Healing
D013373:Substance P