title: Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor 121 adenovirus transduction in rabbit model of femur head necrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to observe the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 121 gene transfer in promoting vascular reconstruction and bone repair in femur head necrosis of rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The femoral head necrosis model was induced by injection with ethanol. The necrotic femoral head was transfected with a human adenoviral vector expressing VEGF (Ad-hVEGF121). Bone formation in the subchondral necrotic region was analyzed using histology, by measuring the bone mineral density value, and by observing bone trabecular morphology using image analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Revascularization level, bone formation rate, bone quality and quantity, and mineralization level in the subchondral necrotic region of the gene transfection group were significantly higher than the control groups. The control groups had more subchondral bone resorption compared with the gene transfection group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF might promote bone formation and revascularization in the subchondral necrotic region of the femoral head, indirectly protecting the necrotic bone trabecula from absorption and avoiding a reduction in the mechanical function of the subchondral region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yu-gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jian-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Tong-wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000256:Adenoviridae; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001862:Bone Resorption; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A