The manipulation of the molecular mechanisms that govern distraction osteogenesis (DO) in order to increase the biomechanical strength of new bone and to accelerate its synthesis has been the topic of intense research during the past decades. / Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play an important role in bone formation. In this study, using a rabbit model of DO, the expressions of BMP's major intracellular signalling molecules, Smad proteins, was analyzed and correlated with the expression of BMP ligands and receptors. Based on these results, which confirmed post-receptor activity for the BMP signalling pathway during DO, we hypothesized that exogenous BMPs injected early in the distraction phase will accelerate bone formation in cases of DO. The cellular changes induced by local application of rhBMP-7 (OP-1) on bone formation were therefore investigated, as well as the possible pathways through which OP-1 was responsible for these effects. / The present study reveals that acceleration of bone formation can be attained after injection of OP-1 early during the distraction protocol. The enhanced bone formation, which occurs through the activation of numerous pathways, most likely depends on a non-vascular mechanism.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.101142 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Hrit, Manuela. |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Faculty of Dentistry.) |
| Rights | © Manuela Hrit, 2006 |
| Relation | alephsysno: 002587416, proquestno: AAIMR32721, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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