STIMULATION OF BONE-FORMATION IN-VIVO BY INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-II IN RATS

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) plays an important role in skel etal remodeling, however, little is known about its effect on bone for mation in vivo. In our study of the stimulation of bone formation in v ivo by IGF-II we injected recombinant human IGF-II into the parietal b ones of neonatal rats once a day for 12 days. The bone mineral density measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and the thickness of IGF -II-injected parietal bones increased in a dose-dependent manner. The layers of osteoblasts were observed along the IGF-II-injected side.