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. 2018 Nov 27;13(1):301.
doi: 10.1186/s13018-018-0984-x.

Enhanced tendon-bone healing with acidic fibroblast growth factor delivered in collagen in a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction model

Daifeng Lu  1 , Chuandong Yang  2 , Zhitao Zhang  1 , Mochao Xiao  3
Affiliations

Enhanced tendon-bone healing with acidic fibroblast growth factor delivered in collagen in a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction model

Daifeng Lu et al. J Orthop Surg Res. .

Abstract

Background: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of acidic fibroblast growth factor delivered in collagen (aFGF/collagen) for promoting tendon-bone interface healing after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in rabbits.

Methods: ACL reconstructions were performed in the right hind limbs of New Zealand rabbits. Each left long digital extensor tendon was harvested as an autograft, and collagen incorporating different concentrations of aFGF or same amount of collagen alone was applied at the tendon-bone interface after ACL reconstruction. The control group underwent ACL reconstruction only. There were high and low aFGF/collagen groups, collagen alone group, and control group (n = 21 rabbits per group). Histological and biomechanical analyses were performed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively to evaluate the effect of aFGF/collagen on tendon-bone interface healing.

Results: Results of biomechanical tests showed that at both 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively, the elastic modulus and stiffness in both the high and low aFGF/collagen treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the control group and collagen alone group, with that in the high aFGF/collagen concentration group being the highest. Histological analysis showed that at 8 weeks, tightly organized Sharpey-like fibers were observed in both aFGF/collagen groups with new bone growth into the tendon in the high concentration group. At 12 weeks postoperatively, a fibrocartilage transition zone was observed in the bone tunnels in both aFGF/collagen groups, especially in the high aFGF/collagen group.

Conclusion: Application of the aFGF/collagen composite could enhance early healing at the tendon-bone interface after ACL reconstruction, especially with the use of a high aFGF/collagen concentration.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Reconstruction; Tendon–bone healing; aFGF.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This double-blinded study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use committee at The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and performed under the guidelines for the care and use of animals in research.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Histological examination of representative week 4 specimen. a High aFGF/collagen (4 μg) treatment group. b Low aFGF/collagen (1 μg) treatment group. c Collagen alone group. d Control group. H&E staining, original magnification × 100
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Histological examination of representative week 8 specimen. a High aFGF/collagen (4 μg) treatment group. b Low aFGF/collagen (1 μg) treatment group. c Collagen alone group. d Control group. H&E staining, original magnification × 100
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Histological examination of representative week 12 specimen. a High aFGF/collagen (4 μg) treatment group. b Low aFGF/collagen (1 μg) treatment group. c Collagen alone group. d Control group. H&E staining, original magnification × 100
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Maximum load-to-failure (A), elastic modulus (B), and stiffness (C) in all groups at different time points compared to a: the control group at the same time, P < 0.05; b: the collagen group at the same time point, P < 0.05; c: the low aFGF/collagen group at the same time, P < 0.05; d: the same group at 4 weeks, P < 0.05; and e: the same group at 8 weeks, P < 0.05
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