Expression of bone morphogenetic protein and its significance during distraction osteogenesis following tibial osteotomy

    FAN Guoª²Hua, LIN Yueª²Qiu, LI Zhuª²Yi, ZHOU Zhongª²Ying

    Department of Orthopaedics, Fujian Provincial Corps Hospital, Chinese People¬ðs Armed Police Forces, Fuzhou 350003, China, Department of Orthopaedics, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command, Kunming 650032, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To study the expression of bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) and its significance during distraction osteogenesis. METHODS: Rabbits were used to make the models of tibial lengthening by osteotomy and distraction and sacrificed at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 d after the interventions. BMP at the margins of bone formation in different time periods of tibial lengthening was detected immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibody against BMP. RESULTS: There was a persistent expression of BMP in the whole course of bone lengthening, but the position of BMP expression varied in different time periods. The expression of BMP can be found in most of the cells and tissues except inflammatory cells, osteoid and trabecular bone. There was a high level expression of BMP in mesenchymal cells, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, osteocytes and marrow cells. CONCLUSION: BMP plays an important role in the course of distraction osteogenesis. The deficiency of BMP may be a main reason for bone nonunion in distraction osteogenesis. ......