INTRAMUSCULAR OSTEOINDUCTION AND BONE-MARROW FORMATION BY THE IMPLANTATION OF RHBMP-2 WITH ATELOPEPTIDE TYPE-I COLLAGEN

The study examines the osteoinductive potential of recombinant human m orphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) radiologically and histologically in rat calf muscle,Ten male Wistar rats were used, rhBMP-2 50 mu g was im planted with atelopeptide type I collagen as carrier in a pouch in rat calf muscle (n=5), and atelopeptide type I collagen alone was implant ed in a further five as control, Induction of osteogenesis at 4 weeks was investigated, In all rats in which rhBMP-2 had been implanted ther e was a radio-opaque shadow in the muscle in the soft tissue radiograp h, No such shadows were noted in the control group, Histological exami nation showed bony trabeculum, osteoblasts, and vigorous bone marrow i ncluding fatty marrow and angioid tissue both at the margins and in th e center of the excised lumps in the rhBMP-2 group, There were no such signs in the control group, rhBMP-2 may be capable not only of induci ng the formation of bone, but also of inducing a 'self-supporting bone organ' in the muscle.