title: FGF-4 and titanium implants: a pilot study in rabbit bone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a local single injection of amino-terminally truncated recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-4 (rhFGF-4s) on titanium implant incorporation in a rabbit bone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six threaded titanium implants were inserted into the femur and tibia of six rabbits. Three weeks prior to implant insertion 10 microg of FGF-4 in an altelocollagen carrier or the carrier alone was injected into the intended implant sites. Biomechanical evaluation by (i) resonance frequency analysis and (ii) peak removal torque measurements was performed after 6 weeks. The implants with surrounding tissue were processed to undecalcified ground sections followed by light-microscopic quantifications of the bone in threaded area and the apical parts of the implants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A general trend, however not statistically significant, with higher mean values obtained in the above-mentioned tests was found. The FGF-4-treated implants revealed a significantly increased bone area in the apical part of the implants compared to the corresponding control implants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A local single injection of rhFGF-4 may stimulate bone formation around titanium implants in bone. However, further research is required to confirm these results, understand the mechanisms of FGF, and establish optimal dose and delivery methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials/Handicap Research, Institute of Surgical Sciences, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. victoria.franke-stenport@hkf.gu.se
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Franke Stenport
authors.forename: Carina B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawase
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen; D015921:Dental Implants; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005269:Femur; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D016348:Osseointegration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013977:Tibia; D014025:Titanium; D019415:Torque
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D004337:Drug Carriers; C496445:FGF4 protein, human; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C059821:atelocollagen; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D003094:Collagen; D014025:Titanium