Caspase-3 may be employed as an early predictor for fracture‑induced             osteonecrosis of the femoral head in a canine model.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the local expression of             caspase-3 following femoral neck fractures in a canine model and to investigate             its effect on the occurrence of fracture-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral             head (ONFH). Eight dogs had surgically-induced femoral neck fractures on the left             side which remained untreated. Radiological and histological examinations were             employed to detect morphological changes of the femoral head. Immunohistochemical             staining of caspase-3 was used to evaluate cell apoptosis, which may play an important             role in ONFH. The results were compared to the normal side for statistical analysis.             As a result, all eight dogs had ONFH, with non-union in five and malunion in three             on radiological examination. Histologically, the untreated femoral heads developed             osteonecrosis with an accumulation of bone marrow cell debris, empty lacunae and/or             ghost nuclei in the lacunae, and an increase in the number of fat cells. Immunohistochemical             staining of caspase-3 indicated that it was upregulated in fracture-induced ONFH             two weeks postoperatively, which showed a statistical difference when compared             to the normal side. In conclusion, the local expression of caspase-3 was upregulated             in fracture-induced ONFH, suggesting that cell apoptosis is crucial in traumatic             ONFH. Caspase-3 may therefore be employed as an effective and early predictor             for fracture-induced ONFH.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, PR China.
You-Shui
YS
Gao
Shang-Chun
SC
Guo
Hao
H
Ding
Chang-Qing
CQ
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005270:Femur Head / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D015854:Up-Regulation
D053148:Caspase 3