title: [Nerve growth factor modulates bone morphogenetic protein expression in rabbit fracture].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the regulation of the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) of nerve growth factor (NGF) and examine the mechanism of nerve growth factor in promoting fracture repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 108 healthy New Zealand white rabbits, weighting 2.5-3.0 kg, male or female, were randomly divided into 3 groups of NGF (Group A), antagonistic NGF (Group B) and control (Group C) (n = 36 each). A standard model of right mid-piece radial fracture was established. Group A received an intravenous injection of NGF 200 ng/kg twice daily 1 week while group B an intraperitoneal injection of NGF antibody 400 ng thrice daily for 3 weeks; group C physiological saline 1 ml twice daily for 3 weeks. And 6 rabbits in each group were sacrificed at 24 h, 48 h, 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks respectively. And BMP proteins of fracture specimens were analyzed by Western immunoblot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NGF promoted the expression of BMP in fracture while NGF antagonist inhibited its expression. NGF group produced more BMP earlier than control or NGF antagonist group during fracture healing while the production of BMP was more pronounced in control group than that in NGF antagonist group during fracture healing. And the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capable of promoting the expression of BMP in radial fracture of rabbit, NGF may be beneficial to fracture healing directly or indirectly.
authors.affiliation: Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
authors.forename: Yupeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China. Email: zhaodewei2000@163.com.
authors.forename: Dewei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Weiming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Benjie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhengang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor