Popis: |
We evaluated the osteoprogenitor response to rhBMP-2 and DBM in a transgenic mouse critical sized defect. The mice expressed Col3.6GFPtopaz (a pre-osteoblastic marker), Col2.3GFPemerald (an osteoblastic marker) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA-Cherry, a pericyte/myofibroblast marker). We assessed defect healing at various time points using radiographs, frozen, and conventional histologic analyses. GFP signal in regions of interest corresponding to the areas of new bone formation was quantified using a novel computer assisted algorithm. All defects treated with rhBMP-2 healed. In contrast, the majority of the defects in the DBM (27/30) and control (28/30) groups did not heal. Quantitation of pre-osteoblasts demonstrated a maximal response (% GFP+ cells/TV) in the Col3.6GFPtopaz mice at day 7 (7.2% ± 6.0, p |