VEGF facilitates periosteal distraction-induced osteogenesis in rabbits: a micro-computerized tomography study.
OBJECTIVE
Distraction osteogenesis is routinely used for reconstruction of bone. Conversely, it was hypothesized that mechanical traction of the periosteum would induce bone formation, and hence the use of periosteal distraction for induction of osteogenesis has been proposed. Further, it was postulated that intracallus administration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) would facilitate osteogenesis. To investigate this hypothesis, formation of newly synthesized bone was evaluated using micro-computerized tomography (microCT) and histomorphometry.


METHODS
Periosteal distractors were placed subperiosteally in one side of the mandible of rabbits, whereas the contralateral served as control. One group of animals received VEGF into the forming callus. Formation of bone was measured using microCT and histological analysis.


RESULTS
The results demonstrate formation of new bone following periosteal distraction. Addition of VEGF to the distraction site increased bone synthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
microCT and histological analysis validate the hypothesis that mechanical distraction of the periosteum induces osteogenesis and that VEGF has a positive effect on osteogenesis. Periosteal distraction is emerging as a reliable technique for bone regeneration.
Casap
Nardy
N
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Venezia
Nuphar Blau
NB
Wilensky
Asaf
A
Samuni
Yuval
Y
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010521:Periosteum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A