京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18510号 / 医博第3930号 / 新制||医||1006(附属図書館) / 31396 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 妻木 範行, 教授 開 祐司, 教授 戸口田 淳也 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

No description available.

Fractures of bone are very common, affecting 2% of the population per annum. Whilst the majority heal uneventfully, 10-15% exhibit delayed or non-union. These complications tend to occur in patients who have sustained high-energy open fractures, which are limb-threatening injuries, or low-energy osteoporotic fractures, which are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Enhancement or acceleration of fracture repair would confer significant benefit to these patients as well as reduce the public health burden. Inflammation represents the earliest response following trauma and initiates a cascade of downstream events crucial for wound healing. However, the mechanism by which this occurs remains poorly defined. A detailed understanding of how these upstream events initiate fracture healing is a necessary step in the development of therapeutics to enhance this process. Our group previously reported that addition of low dose recombinant human TNF (rhTNF) at the fracture site accelerated fracture repair in a murine tibial fracture model. Here I show that local rhTNF treatment is only effective when administered within 24 hours of injury, when neutrophils represent the major inflammatory cell infiltrate. Endogenous TNF was expressed at the fracture site initially by neutrophils and after 3 days by monocytes/macrophages. Systemic administration of anti-TNF resulted in impaired fracture healing. The addition of rhTNF to the fracture environment in an air pouch model enhanced neutrophil recruitment, and promoted the recruitment of monocytes through CCL2 production. Conversely, inhibition of either neutrophils or the chemokine receptor CCR2 resulted in significantly impaired fracture healing. Fragility fractures represent a major unmet medical need and they are associated with permanent disability and premature death. Using a murine model of fragility fractures, rhTNF treatment improved fracture healing during the early phase of repair. Translated clinically, accelerated healing would permit earlier load bearing and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with delayed patient mobilisation.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of loading during long bone fracture healing in-vitro and in-vivo. Fracture healing has until now only been monitored using radiographs and ultrasound. An intramedullary nail instrumented with strain gauges has the potential to monitor loading in-vivo during bone fracture healing. Strain has been previously monitored over time though external fixation devices however there has been no published data about monitoring through a nail. The load carried by a telemetric intramedullary nail during simulated fracture healing is monitored in-vitro with the aid of custom designed jigs, integrated in a biomechanical test frame. Clinically predetermined loading conditions are applied to the construct and synthetic bone composites are used developed to simulate mechanical strength of early to mature osteogenic bone, approximating natural healing processes. Four different synthetic bone composites have been designed and developed to mimic the mechanical properties of granulation tissue, fibrous tissue, cartilaginous tissue and immature bone. Three different generations (GEN I – IIIa) of intramedullary nails were developed and biomechanically tested in-vitro. GEN I and II were purely biomechanical nails that underwent compression, torsional and 4pt bend tests. Different fracture patterns and callus morphology were simulated and tested biomechanically. Circumferential and segmental application of the synthetic materials were applied on the artificial fractured bone instrumented with GEN I. Observations from live animal study provided x-rays from which callus growth patterns were extracted and repeated in-vitro. Cadaveric biomechanical tests and pre-clinical trial of GEN IIIa was conducted. The aim was to repeat the biomechanical tests while at the same time monitoring healing with an instrumented nail implanted in an induced fractured, ovine left hind limb. A loading rig was designed for the in-vivo test. The hypothesis proposed is that forces experienced by an intramedullary nail will progressively decrease as fracture heals. Results from GEN I have shown that strain measurement can be monitored during fracture healing in-vitro. The GEN IIIa nail is yet to be tested in-vivo for the same biomechanical tests for comparison. There is currently no published study on simulating fracture healing with accuracy.

A microtomografia 3D por raio-X proporciona medidas quantitativas e tridimensionais da estrutura do calo e essas medidas podem potencialmente estar relacionadas com a resistência do calo. A avaliação quantitativa do reparo ósseo por meio de novas metodologias tem importante aplicação nas pesquisas experimentais relacionadas a tecnologias invasivas e não invasivas para a estimulação do mesmo. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o reparo ósseo por meio da \'mü\'CT em defeito ósseo em fêmur de rato. Trinta ratos machos da classe Wistar com peso médio de 300g foram divididos em grupos experimentais de 10 animais em cada grupo. Os animais foram anestesiados e um furo com 1,2 mm de diâmetro foi realizada na porção medial do fêmur utilizando-se uma broca odontológica. No 7º, 14º e 21º pós-cirúrgico, os animais dos grupos experimentais 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente, foram sacrificados e o fêmur esquerdo excisado. Os fêmures foram envolvidos em gaze e mergulhas em solução PBS e armazenados em um saco plástico em freezer a -20º até a análise microtomográfica. Os fêmures foram escaneados pelo microtomógrafo 1172 (SkyScan, Bélgica). Os softwares NRecon, Dataviewer, CT-Analyzer and CT-Vol, fornecidos pelo fabricante do microtomógrafo, foram utilizados para as seguinte análises: a) análise visual das reconstruções microtomográficas dos fêmures através de secções transversais, coronais e sagitais; b) segmentação do calo ósseo nas reconstruções através de algoritmo de processamento de imagem para quantificação dos parâmetros volume total do calo ósseo (TV), volume do calo ósseo mineralizado (BV), relação BV/TV e densidade mineral óssea volumétrica do calo ósseo (BMD); c) visualização 3D do calo ósseo. A análise estatística dos parâmetros medidos utilizou o teste t de Student com um nível de significância p<0,05. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nos valores dos parâmetros BV/TV e BMD na comparação entre os grupos experimentais 1 e 2. A comparação entre os grupos 3 e 4 não apresentou significância estatística. Os resultados são coerentes com dados encontrados na literatura sobre a fisiologia óssea, porém o algoritmo de processamento de imagem utilizado necessita aprimoramento em alguns de seus procedimentos para se obter melhor resultado de segmentação do calo ósseo na região de interesse. / X-ray microtomography (uCT) provides quantitative and three dimensional measurements of the callus structure and these measurements could potentially be related to callus strength. The assessment of bone repair through new methodologies has important application in animal investigations regarding invasive or non invasive technologies for the stimulation of bone healing. The aim of this investigation was the use of \'mü\'CT for the assessment of bone repair in a rat femur bone defect. Thirty male Wistar rats weighting about 300g were divided in three experimental groups with 10 animals on each group. The animals were anesthetized and a circular hole with a 1.2 mm diameter was generated at the medial region of the left femur using a dental drill. At the 7th, 14th and 21st day after surgery the animals of experimental groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, were sacrificed and the left femur excised. The femurs were wrapped in gauze immersed in phosphate-buffered solution and stored in a plastic bag at -20ºC until the analysis by microtomograph. The femurs were scanned by the 1172 microtomograph (SkyScan, Belgium). The softwares NRecon, Dataviewer, CT-Analyzer and CT-Vol, provided by the microtomograph manufacture, were used for the following assessments: a) visual examination of the femurs microtomographic reconstructions using transversal, coronal and sagittal sections; b) segmentation of the bone callus in the reconstructions using an image processing algorithm to quantify the parameters total bone callus volume (TV), volume of the mineralized bone callus (BV), the ratio BV/TV and the volumetric bone callus mineral density (BMD); c) 3D rendering of the bone callus. The statistical analysis of the measured parameters was performed by the Student t test with a level of significance p<0,05. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean values of the parameters BV/TV and BMD in the comparison of experimental groups 1 and 2. The comparison between groups 2 and 3 was not statistically significant. Results are according to bone physiology data from literature although the image processing algorithm used needs some adjustments to get better results in bone callus segmentation in ROI.

A fratura é uma descontinuidade óssea que pode ser produzida cirurgicamente ou causada por um impacto que excede a resistência mecânica do osso dando início a uma sequência de eventos sistêmicos e específicos de resposta do tecido. Exames radiológicos são comumente realizados na clínica e em experimentos com animais para o monitoramento do reparo ósseo dando informações sobre o alinhamento dos fragmentos e da evolução de reparo. Outras técnicas de monitoramento qualitativas e quantitativas podem ser utilizadas em experimento animal (histologia e ensaios mecânicos) e em experimento animal e clínico (tomografia computadorizada por raio X, ressonância magnética, ultra-sonografia). A microtomografia 3D por raio X é uma nova técnica de monitoramento para uso em experimento animal e com grande potencialidade. A quantificação do reparo ósseo com novas metodologias tem larga aplicação em investigações sobre técnicas invasivas e não-invasivas de tratamento de fraturas utilizando-se experimento animal. O objetivo dessa investigação foi a utilização da microtomografia 3D por raio X policromático (\'mü\'CT) para a avaliação do reparo ósseo em defeito ósseo na tíbia direita de rato macho da raça Wistar com peso aproximado de 280 g. O defeito foi produzido por uma broca odontológica com alta rotação. Foram estabelecidos quatro grupos experimentais caracterizados pela utilização ou não utilização do tratamento do defeito por ultra-som pulsado de baixa intensidade (LIPUS, 30 mW/\'CM POT.2\') e pela duração do experimento. No grupo 1 o tratamento por ultra-som teve a duração de 14 dias, 5 sessões de tratamento por semana. No grupo 2 não houve tratamento por ultra-som e a duração foi de 14 dias. No grupo 3 o tratamento por ultra-som teve a duração de 21 dias, 5 sessões de tratamento por semana. No grupo 4 não houve tratamento por ultra-som e a duração foi de 21 dias. Nos grupos 1 a 4 foram utilizados 10 animais para a avaliação por CT. O defeito ósseo da tíbia direita nos animais dos grupos 1 e 3 foi tratado com ultra-som de baixa intensidade. A avaliação por CT foi realizada através dos softwares NRecon, Data Viewer , CT-Analyzer e CT-Vol fornecidos pelo fabricante do microtomógrafo (Skyscan, Bélgica). Não foi observada diferença estatísticamente significante na quantificação do reparo ósseo dos defeitos dos grupos 1 e 2 e dos grupos 3 e 4. / Fracture is a bone discontinuity that can be surgically produced or caused by an impact that exceeds the mechanical strength of bone by initiating a series of systemic events and specific tissue response. Radiological tests are commonly performed in clinical and animal experiments for monitoring the bone healing by providing information about the alignment of the fragments and the evolution of repair. Other techniques for monitoring quality and quantity can be used in experimental animals (histology and mechanical tests) and in animal experiments and clinical studies (computed tomography X-ray, MRI, ultrasound). The 3D microtomography by X-ray is a new monitoring technique for use in animal experiment and with great potential. The quantification of bone repair with new methods has wide application in research on invasive and noninvasive treatment of fractures using animal experiment. The goal of this research was to use the 3D microtomography by non monochromatic X-ray (\'mü\'CT) to evaluate the bone healing in bone defect in the tibia of Wistar male rat weighing approximately 280 g. The defect was produced by a dental drill with high speed. It was established four experimental groups characterized by the use or non use of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS, 30 mW/\'CM POT.2\') for the bone defect treatment as well as the duration of the experiment. In group 1 the LIPUS treatment last 14 days, 5 treatment sessions per week. In group 2 the LIPUS treatment was not used and the duration was 14 days. In group 3 the LIPUS treatment last 21 days, 5 treatment sessions per week. In group 4 the LIPUS treatment was not used and the duration was 21 days. In groups 1 to 4, 10 animals were used for evaluation by CT. The evaluation was conducted by CT through software NRecon, Data Viewer, CT-Vol and CT-Analyzer supplied by the microtomography manufacturer (SkyScan, Belgium). No significant statistical differences were found between the results of groups 1 and 2 as well as the results of groups 3 and 4.

O acúmulo de gordura corporal é considerado um problema de saúde pública com diversas consequências negativas, inclusive relacionado à redução da qualidade do osso, que afeta cada vez mais indivíduos jovens. São crescentes as investigações que buscam esclarecer a relação entre massa gorda e massa óssea. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito do consumo excessivo de lipídios na estrutura e no processo de consolidação óssea em tíbias de ratas em crescimento. Foram utilizadas cinquenta e duas ratas Wistar com 21 dias de vida, distribuídas em quatro grupos (n=13), sendo: animais submetidos à dieta padrão (DP), animais submetidos à dieta hiperlipídica (DH), animais submetidos à dieta padrão e osteotomia (DPO) e animais submetidos à dieta hiperlipídica e osteotomia (DHO). Cada um deles com período experimental de 5 semanas. Os animais dos grupos DP e DH foram mantidos sem intervenção, enquanto os animais dos grupos DPO e DHO foram submetidos à osteotomia da tíbia esquerda na terceira semana experimental. Durante o experimento a massa corporal e o consumo de ração dos animais foram avaliados. Um dia precedente à eutanásia foi realizado o teste de tolerância à insulina em 5 animais de cada grupo. Após a eutanásia a tíbia esquerda de cada rata foi dissecada, limpa das partes moles e submetidas a análises macroscópica, densitometria, ensaio mecânico, histomorfometria, estereologia do osso neoformado e imunohistoquímica. Os dados foram analisados por teste estatístico em modelo linear geral com ajuste para múltiplas comparações de Bonferroni para comparação entre as variáveis, e teste T-Student e Mann-Whitney para comparação entre dois grupos. Ao final do experimento os animais alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica apresentaram massa corporal similar aos animais alimentados com dieta padrão (p=0,115), no entanto tiveram consumo reduzido de ração (p<0,001) e menor sensibilidade à insulina (p=0,018). A variável cirurgia afetou o consumo de ração sendo que animais operados consumiram menos ração do que animais não operados (p=0,017). Os animais alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica tiveram tíbias mais compridas (p=0,041), menor força máxima (p<0,001) e rigidez relativa (p=0,003) quando comparados aos animais alimentados com dieta padrão, embora a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) tenha sido similar (p=0,958). Os animais operados tiveram menor força máxima (p<0,001), rigidez (p=0,020) e menor quantidade de colágeno proximal (p=0,029) quando comparados aos não operados. O volume de osso neoformado das tíbias submetidas à osteotomia tendeu a ser menor no grupo DHO ao grupo DPO (p=0,054). A avaliação imunohistoquímica não revelou diferença entre os grupos DHO e DPO (p<0,05). Concluímos que a dieta hiperlipídica prejudicou a resistência mecânica das tíbias e causou uma redução do volume de osso neoformado, prejudicando dessa forma a estrutura e consolidação óssea das tíbias de ratas em crescimento / The body fat accumulation have been considered a public health issue with several negative consequences, including reduction of bone quality, that affects young people increasingly. The studies that seek to clarify the relationship between fat mass and bone mass have been increasing. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high consumption of lipids on bone structure and bone healing in growing rats. Fifty-two female Wistar rats 21 days old were used, divided into four groups (n=13), as follows: animals treated with standard diet (SD), animals treated with high-fat diet (HFD), animals treated with standard diet and osteotomy (SDO) and animals treated with high-fat diet and osteotomy (HFDO). Experimental period was of 5 weeks for every groups. The SD and HFD animals were maintained without intervention, while SDO and HFDO groups were submitted to osteotomy in left tibia at third experimental week. Animal body mass and feed intake were assessed during experimental period. One day before euthanasia insulin tolerance test was performed in 5 animal of each group. After euthanasia, the left tibia of each rat was dissected and cleaned of soft tissues and submitted to macroscopy analysis, densitometry, mechanical analysis, histomorphometry, stereology of newly formed bone and immunohistochemistry. Data were analyzed by general linear model with adjustment to multiple comparisons of Bonferroni for comparisons between variables and TStudent e Mann-Whitney test for comparisons between two groups. At end of the experiment the high-fat diet fed animals had body mass similar to standard diet fed animals (p=0.115), however they had lower feed intake (p<0.001) and lower insulin sensibility (p=0.018). Surgery affected feed intake, operated animals had lower feed intake than non-operated animals (p=0.017). High-fat diet fed animals had longer tibias (p=0,041), lower maximal load (p<0.001) and lower stiffness (p=0,003) than standard diet fed animals, although bone mineral density (BMD) had been similar (p=0,958). Operated animals had lower maximal load (p<0.001), stiffness (p=0.020) and lower collagen quantity (p=0.029) than non-operated animals. Newly formed bone of tibias submitted to osteotomy trended to be lower in HFDO group than SDO group (p=0.054). Immunohistochemistry presented no difference between HFDO e SDO group (p<0.05). We concluded high-fat diet affected bone in order to harm tibia strength and caused a decrease in the newly formed bone volume, impairing structure and bone healing

Li Chi Kei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong,1995. / Includes bibliogrpahical references (leaves 54-68). / Abstract --- p.1 / Acknowledgments --- p.4 / Lists of Figures --- p.5 / List of Tables --- p.8 / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1 --- Ligamental Injury --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2 --- ACL Injury --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- Patellar Tendon and Anterior Cruciate Ligament --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Patellar Tendon Bone Graft --- p.13 / Chapter 1.41 --- Strength of the Patellar Tendon Bone Graft --- p.13 / Chapter 1.42 --- Use of the Patellar Tendon Bone Graft --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5 --- Patellar Tendon Bone Graft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction --- p.14 / Chapter 1.6 --- Complications of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction after the Use of Patellar Tendon Bone Graft --- p.16 / Chapter 1.7 --- Healing of the Patellar Tendon Donor Site --- p.17 / Chapter 1.8 --- Objective of the Study --- p.22 / Chapter 1.9 --- Significance of the Study --- p.22 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Material & Method --- p.24 / Chapter 2.1 --- Animal Model --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- Grouping --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Operative Procedure --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4 --- Method of Assessment --- p.26 / Chapter 2.41 --- Gross Morphology --- p.26 / Chapter 2.42 --- Biomechanical Testing --- p.27 / Chapter 2.43 --- Biochemical Assay --- p.28 / Chapter 2.43.1 --- Water Content --- p.29 / Chapter 2.43.2 --- Collagen Content --- p.29 / Chapter 2.44 --- Histology --- p.30 / Chapter 2.45 --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5 --- Statistics --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.33 / Chapter 3.1 --- Operation Complications --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2 --- Gross Morphology --- p.33 / Chapter 3.21 --- Dimension of the Patellar Tendon --- p.33 / Chapter 3.22 --- Dimension of the Patellar Tendon Bone Graft --- p.33 / Chapter 3.23 --- Dimension of the Remain Patellar Tendon --- p.34 / Chapter 3.24 --- Gross Appearance of the Patellar Tendon Donor Site --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- Biomechanical Testing --- p.36 / Chapter 3.31 --- Failure Load --- p.36 / Chapter 3.32 --- Ultimate Stress --- p.37 / Chapter 3.33 --- Stiffness --- p.37 / Chapter 3.34 --- Energy Absorbed before Failure --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4 --- Biochemical Assay --- p.38 / Chapter 3.41 --- Water Content --- p.38 / Chapter 3.42 --- Collagen Content --- p.39 / Chapter 3 .5 --- Histology & Immunohistochemistry --- p.39 / Chapter 3.51 --- Morphology of Control Tendon --- p.40 / Chapter 3.52 --- Morphology of Experimental Tendon with 'Open' Procedure --- p.40 / Chapter 3.53 --- Morphology of Experimental Tendon with 'Close' Procedure --- p.41 / Chapter 3.54 --- Healing at the Patellar and Tibial Insertion Site --- p.41 / Chapter 3.55 --- Morphology of the Cartilage Surface --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion & Conclusion --- p.43 / Chapter 4.1 --- Gross Morphology --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2 --- Biomechanical Testing --- p.45 / Chapter 4.3 --- Biochemical Assay --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4 --- Histology & Immunohistochemistry --- p.49 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.51 / References --- p.54 / Figures / Tables / Appendix

A microtomografia 3D por raio-X proporciona medidas quantitativas e tridimensionais da estrutura do calo e essas medidas podem potencialmente estar relacionadas com a resistência do calo. A avaliação quantitativa do reparo ósseo por meio de novas metodologias tem importante aplicação nas pesquisas experimentais relacionadas a tecnologias invasivas e não invasivas para a estimulação do mesmo. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o reparo ósseo por meio da \'mü\'CT em defeito ósseo em fêmur de rato. Trinta ratos machos da classe Wistar com peso médio de 300g foram divididos em grupos experimentais de 10 animais em cada grupo. Os animais foram anestesiados e um furo com 1,2 mm de diâmetro foi realizada na porção medial do fêmur utilizando-se uma broca odontológica. No 7º, 14º e 21º pós-cirúrgico, os animais dos grupos experimentais 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente, foram sacrificados e o fêmur esquerdo excisado. Os fêmures foram envolvidos em gaze e mergulhas em solução PBS e armazenados em um saco plástico em freezer a -20º até a análise microtomográfica. Os fêmures foram escaneados pelo microtomógrafo 1172 (SkyScan, Bélgica). Os softwares NRecon, Dataviewer, CT-Analyzer and CT-Vol, fornecidos pelo fabricante do microtomógrafo, foram utilizados para as seguinte análises: a) análise visual das reconstruções microtomográficas dos fêmures através de secções transversais, coronais e sagitais; b) segmentação do calo ósseo nas reconstruções através de algoritmo de processamento de imagem para quantificação dos parâmetros volume total do calo ósseo (TV), volume do calo ósseo mineralizado (BV), relação BV/TV e densidade mineral óssea volumétrica do calo ósseo (BMD); c) visualização 3D do calo ósseo. A análise estatística dos parâmetros medidos utilizou o teste t de Student com um nível de significância p<0,05. Houve um aumento estatisticamente significante nos valores dos parâmetros BV/TV e BMD na comparação entre os grupos experimentais 1 e 2. A comparação entre os grupos 3 e 4 não apresentou significância estatística. Os resultados são coerentes com dados encontrados na literatura sobre a fisiologia óssea, porém o algoritmo de processamento de imagem utilizado necessita aprimoramento em alguns de seus procedimentos para se obter melhor resultado de segmentação do calo ósseo na região de interesse. / X-ray microtomography (uCT) provides quantitative and three dimensional measurements of the callus structure and these measurements could potentially be related to callus strength. The assessment of bone repair through new methodologies has important application in animal investigations regarding invasive or non invasive technologies for the stimulation of bone healing. The aim of this investigation was the use of \'mü\'CT for the assessment of bone repair in a rat femur bone defect. Thirty male Wistar rats weighting about 300g were divided in three experimental groups with 10 animals on each group. The animals were anesthetized and a circular hole with a 1.2 mm diameter was generated at the medial region of the left femur using a dental drill. At the 7th, 14th and 21st day after surgery the animals of experimental groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, were sacrificed and the left femur excised. The femurs were wrapped in gauze immersed in phosphate-buffered solution and stored in a plastic bag at -20ºC until the analysis by microtomograph. The femurs were scanned by the 1172 microtomograph (SkyScan, Belgium). The softwares NRecon, Dataviewer, CT-Analyzer and CT-Vol, provided by the microtomograph manufacture, were used for the following assessments: a) visual examination of the femurs microtomographic reconstructions using transversal, coronal and sagittal sections; b) segmentation of the bone callus in the reconstructions using an image processing algorithm to quantify the parameters total bone callus volume (TV), volume of the mineralized bone callus (BV), the ratio BV/TV and the volumetric bone callus mineral density (BMD); c) 3D rendering of the bone callus. The statistical analysis of the measured parameters was performed by the Student t test with a level of significance p<0,05. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean values of the parameters BV/TV and BMD in the comparison of experimental groups 1 and 2. The comparison between groups 2 and 3 was not statistically significant. Results are according to bone physiology data from literature although the image processing algorithm used needs some adjustments to get better results in bone callus segmentation in ROI.

The management of significant bone defects, delayed and non-union of fractures can be extremely challenging. Development of specific treatment is hindered by an absence of information regarding the molecular events which regulate these processes. In this thesis, a bilateral cancellous bone defect model of the femur and tibia was developed in a rodent and the spatiotemporal profile of TGF-β, BMP 2 and 7, Smads 1, 4 and 5 characterised. Next, the capability of acid solution to augment healing was tested in both a bone defect and in a closed femoral fracture model. Finally, a long term oestrogen deficiency (OVX) rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was characterised and the spatiotemporal profiles of IGF-1, IGFR-1, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-7, TGF-β, Smad4, Smad7, VEGF, Flt-1, Ihh and FGF-2 were compared in femoral osteotomies between OVX and Sham groups. The bilateral cancellous defect model was successfully created with a number of advantages with which to recommend its use in future studies. TGF-β, BMP 2 and 7, Smads 1, 4 and 5 had characteristic spatiotemporal profiles during cancellous bone defect healing suggesting that they have a regulatory role. The results of the acid study were inconclusive and problems with substance delivery and maintenance at the desired site need to be addressed in the future to fully test this hypothesis. No significant differences were detected on histology or three-point mechanical testing between the fracture calluses of acid and control groups. In the final study, OVX rats after six months had significantly increased weight and decreased bone mineral density compared to their sham counterparts. A histological delay in osteotomy healing was observed in the OVX group but no significant differences on tensile testing were seen between OVX and Sham groups up to six weeks. Immunohistochemistry revealed that delayed healing may be due to the down-regulation of IGF-1, BMP-2, 4, and 7 and the up-regulation of MMP-3 in OVX compared to Sham groups. In conclusion, the results of this thesis give some insight into the molecular biology of bone defects and osteoporotic fractures. This information may also be useful in the development of specific treatments aimed at augmenting healing in bone defects and osteoporotic fractures.