LOCAL APPLICATION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR INTO THE BONE INCREASES BONE MASS AT THE APPLIED SITE IN RABBITS

The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) applied locally in to the bone under physiological conditions was investigated. An aqueou s solution containing O mu g (vehicle), 100 mu g or 400 mu g recombina nt human bFGF was percutaneously applied through a needle into the rig ht ilium in rabbit, and the ilia were harvested 4 weeks after the appl ication. Compared with vehicle-treated animals, bone mineral density m easured by dual-energy X-ray increased in the 400 mu g bFGF group. The width of trabeculae in the bFGF-treated groups was greater than in th e vehicle group. These results showed that bFGF applied locally into t he bone under physiological conditions affected bone formation, and su ggested that such an application might have potential for increasing b one.