Tendon healing stimulated by injected CDMP-2

Introduction: CDMP-2 is a member of the TFG-beta super-family. It is known to induce bone and cartilage formation but has also been shown under certai n conditions to induce a tendon- and ligament-like tissue. The purpose of t his study was to find possibilities for improvement of Achilles tendon repa ir during nonoperative treatment, by local injections of CDMP-2. Methods: F ifty rats had a 3-mm segment of the Achilles tendon removed. Six hours post operatively, CDMP-2 was injected locally into the defect at a dose of 0, 2, 10, or 50 mug. Eight days after the operation, the rats were killed and th e tensile strength of the repairing tendons was measured with a materials t esting machine. Results: After 8 d, the CDMP-2-treated tendons were 39% str onger than the controls (P = 0.0008). Conclusion: One single injection CDMP -2 can augment tendon repair. Mechanical stimulation is of great importance for tissue differentiation and tendon repair. The tendons in our model wer e mechanically loaded during hearing and this might explain why CDMP-7 inje ctions induced a strong tendon-like tissue instead of bone or cartilage in this model.