Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are diffusible molecules involved in a variety of cellular interactions during development. In particular, Bmp4 expression accompanies the development of the ear sensory organs during patterning and specification of sensory cell fates, and it has been shown to play a role in inner ear development and morphogenesis. However, there is no understanding of the cellular effects of BMP4 in prosensory progenitors, and about its role in the process of sensory fate specification. The present thesis project was aimed at exploring the effects of BMP-signaling on the development of hair-cells, using the chick inner ear as a model.The specific aims proposed were:1- Analyze the cellular effects caused by addition of BMP4 in a model of isolated chick otic vesicles in culture, measuring parameters of cell proliferation, cell death and sensory cell fate specification.2- Analyze the cellular effects caused by inhibition of BMP4 signaling in a model of isolated chick otic vesicles in culture, measuring parameters of cell proliferation, cell death and sensory cell fate specification.3- Analyze the expression in the innear ear of downstream targets of BMP signalling, in particular, analyse the members of Id gene family.4- Analyze the regulation of Id genes by BMP signalling in the inner ear.5- Analyze the expression of genes involved in the process of terminal differentiation, in particular, Btg1 and Btg2 genes6- Analyze the regulation of Btg1 and Btg2 gene by BMP signalling in the inner ear

OBJETIVO El objetivo nuestro proyecto de investigación es demostrar si la presencia de plasma rico en plaquetas (PRP) autólogo, que aporta varios factores de crecimiento en proporciones fisiológicas, en la interfase injerto tendinoso-hueso modifica el proceso de reparación de los tejidos locales en nuestro modelo experimental. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO Diseñamos un estudio de tipo experimental, longitudinal y prospectivo. Diez conejos albinos de Nueva Zelanda son intervenidos en sus 2 extremidades traseras, en una se realiza la técnica Experimental aplicando PRP y la otra sirve de control, sin aplicar PRP . Una vez intervenidos, los animales son divididos en 2 grupos de 5 de forma aleatoria. Un grupo es sacrificado a la 2ª semana y el otro a la 4ª semana postintervención. El área quirúrgica fue estudiada macroscópica, radiográfica, histológica e inmunohistoquímicamente. RESULTADOS El estudio macroscópico y radiográfico de las piezas muestra la presencia de un área de reacción ósea de mayor tamaño en la zona de entrada del tendón en el interior del túnel óseo en el grupo Experimental sacrificado a la 4ª sem. respecto al resto de grupos. Microscópicamente, en ningún corte histológico, tanto de los grupos Control como Experimental, se observa la línea de separación basófila, denominada tidemark190 entre el fibrocartílago mineralizado y el no mineralizado. Si se evidenció la aparición de una mayor cantidad de los elementos tisulares fibrosos, cartilaginosos y osteoides, y un mayor grado de ordenación celular en el fibrocartílago y sustancia osteoide en los grupos Experimentales respecto a sus correspondientes grupos Control. Además se observa la aparición de zonas de anclaje hueso-tendón en dos extremidades del grupo Experimental sacrificado a la 4ª sem., no encontradas en ningún caso Control. En el estudio inmunohistoquímico no apreciamos diferencias en el patrón de distribución del colágeno tipo II entre los distintos grupos, aunque si existe una mayor área de tinción de colágeno tipo II en los grupos Experimentales respecto a sus correspondientes grupos Control, ya que la cantidad de tejido fibrocartilaginoso, en sus variadas formas de presentación, también es mayor en los grupos que recibieron PRP. CONCLUSIONES El análisis de los resultados concluye que macroscópica, radiográfica y microscópicamente, este estudio demuestra que la administración de PRP como fuente de FC afecta al proceso de reparación del autoinjerto tendinoso dentro de un túnel óseo en nuestro modelo experimental. El PRP aceleró la curación, anticipando en el tiempo la aparición de elementos celulares y tisulares propios de fases posteriores del proceso de cicatrización, y además incrementó la cantidad éstos. / EFFECT OF PLATELET RICH PLASMA IN THE BIOLOGIC INCORPORATION OF A TENDON GRAFT IN A BONE TUNNEL Objective: To study the effect of the platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the biological process of tendon healing inside a bone tunnel Material y Methods: We designed an experimental, longitudinal and prospective research study. Ten animals were operated on their back legs (one as Experimental group and the other as Control group). In the Experimental group the tendon of the internal gastrocnemius muscle was cut, infiltrated with PRP, placed in a tibial bone tunnel filled with PRP, and finally, fixed by a bioabsorbable screw. The same procedure was practiced in the Control group without the use of PRP. Five rabbits were sacrificed on the second week and five on the fourth week after surgery. The legs were evaluated macroscopic, radiographic, histologic and immunohistochemically. Results: The macroscopic and radiographic study of the pieces shows the presence of a larger bone reaction area in the entrance of the tendon within the bone tunnel in the Experimental group sacrificed on the fourth week compared to other groups. Microscopically, the "tidemark" isn’t observed between mineralized and unmineralized fibrocartilage in any group . The Experimental group presents a statistically significant greater amount of chondroid tissue, osteoid tissue and trabecular bone, both the second and fourth week. We observe continuity zones between tendinous fibers and bone in some cases of the Experimental group on the fourth week . Immunohistochemically, no appreciable differences in the distribution pattern of type II collagen between the groups could be seen, although there is a greater area of staining in the Experimental group compared to their corresponding Control group Conclusion: The analysis of results and assessment of the comparison established between the research groups concludes that macroscopic, radiographic and microscopically, this study demonstrates that administration of PRP affects the repair process of tendon autograft in a bone tunnel in our experimental model. The PRP accelerated the healing time anticipating the emergence of cellular and tissue elements characteristic of later stages of the healing process, and also increased the amount of them.