title: Local injection of TGF-beta increases the strength of tibial fractures in the rat.
abstract: The effect of Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-beta) administered locally around the fracture line of healing rat tibial fractures was investigated after 40 days of healing. TGF-beta in a dose of 4 ng or 40 ng was injected every second day during the healing period. The strength, stiffness, energy absorption and deflection of the fractures were measured in a materials-testing machine. Compared with placebo-treated animals, the ultimate load of the fractures increased in the group injected with 40 ng of TGF-beta, but not in those injected with 4 ng. TGF-beta induced a dose-dependent increase in the cross-sectional area of the callus and bone at the fracture line. Consequently, local treatment of fractures with TGF-beta increases the callus formation and strength. The energy absorption and deflection capacities of the healing fractures are preserved.
authors.affiliation: University of Aarhus, Department of Connective Tissue Biology, Denmark.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ledet
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oxlund
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta