Velvet antler polypeptides promoted proliferation of chondrocytes and osteoblast precursors and fracture healing.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of velvet antler (VA) total polypeptides (VATP) and VA polypeptides, VAP-A, VAP-B, and VAP-C on proliferation of chondrocytes and osteoblast precusors.


METHODS
Chondrocytes (rabbit and human fetus) and osteoblast precusors (chick embryo) were incubated in the culture medium containing VATP or VAP-A, VAP-B, and VAP-C. [3H]TdR incorporation into DNA was measured. Fracture healing-promoting action of VATP was determined in rats.


RESULTS
VATP 50-200 mg.L-1 and VAP-B 12.5, 25, and 50 mg.L-1 showed most marked proliferation-promoting activity for rabbit costed chondrocytes and increased incorporation of [3H]TdR from (73 +/- 9) Bq (control group) to (272 +/- 55), (327 +/- 38), and (415 +/- 32) Bq, respectively (P < 0.01). The activity of VAP-A was weaker than that of VAP-B, and VAP-C had no activity. VATP 10 and 20 mg.kg-1 by local injection into the cross-section fracture area accelerated healing of radial fracture. The healing rate of VATP-treated group was higher (75%) than that of control group (25%) (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
VATP accelerated fracture healing by stimulating proliferation of chondrocytes and osteoblast precursors.
Zhou
Q L
QL
Research Centre of New Drug, Changchun College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.
Guo
Y J
YJ
Wang
L J
LJ
Wang
Y
Y
Liu
Y Q
YQ
Wang
Y
Y
Wang
B X
BX
D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000737:chemistry; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D010455:Peptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats
D008419:Materia Medica; D010455:Peptides