IMPROVED EARLY BONE-IMPLANT INTEGRATION IN TRANSGENIC MICE OVEREXPRESSING BOVINE GROWTH-HORMONE

Titanium implants were inserted in transgenic mice overexpressing bovi ne growth hormone. Four weeks after insertion the implants were cut ou t en bloc with the surrounding bone. The undecalcified specimens were cut and ground to a thickness of approximately 10 mu m. Histomorphomet ry demonstrated significantly more direct bone to metal contact for th e transgenic mice than for the non-transgenic littermates. The results indicate that endogenous high levels of bovine growth hormone result in improved early bone-implant integration. This study indicate that i t may be possible to systemically administrate growth hormone in man, in the early healing in phase, to improve implant integration.