Cj. Damien et al., A COMPOSITE OF NATURAL CORAL, COLLAGEN, BONE PROTEIN AND BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR TESTED IN A RAT SUBCUTANEOUS MODEL, Annales chirurgiae et gynaecologiae, 82, 1993, pp. 117-128
A rat subcutaneous model was used to test the osteoinductive efficacy
of a composite consisting of natural coral, collagen, a bone morphogen
etic protein-like material [termed bone protein (BP)I, and basic fibro
blast growth factor (bFGF). Results indicated good ossicle formation o
nly when BF was present, whether with or without bFGF. Initially, cart
ilage and mineralized cartilage were apparent. With time, osteoblastic
bone formation and hematopoietic marrow were evident. bFGF may have e
nhanced the maturation of the ossicles in the early stages. Coral-coll
agen appears to be a good carrier vehicle for BP and should be tested
in a bony site. This would allow the osteoconductive property of coral
to be expressed.