Systemically administered human growth hormone improves initial implant stability: an experimental study in the rabbit

Abstract

Purpose: This study was an investigation to determine whether human growth hormone (hGH) continuously administered to rabbits may improve implant integration in bone.

Materials and methods: Thirty-two commercially pure titanium (c.p. Ti) implants were inserted in the tibiae of 16 rabbits. Human growth hormone (0.3 U/kg/d) or sodium chloride (NaCl) was administered by subcutaneous pumps. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in blood were measured. Two biomechanical tests were performed: (1) every second week resonance frequency analysis (RFA) was used to investigate implant stability or stiffness at the interface and, after 8 weeks of follow-up, (2) removal torque (a measure of implant integration and stability) was registered. Further evaluation was performed by dual energy x-ray analysis (DEXA), to evaluate bone mineral density, and histomorphometric analysis of tissue-to-implant integration on undecalcified cut and ground sections.

Results: A difference in implant stability was detected with the RFA technique after 2 weeks and 8 weeks in favor of the hGH-treated rabbits. No significant differences were detected with removal torque, DEXA, and histomorphometric measurements. The blood test demonstrated antibody development in the rabbits treated with hGH after 4 weeks.

Conclusion: Growth hormone has an initial beneficial effect on implant integration; however, owing to rapid antibody formation, this study did not demonstrate whether this effect remains in the long term.