Purpose
To evaluate the effect of ergosterol combined with risedronate on fracture
healing.
Methods
Sixty male Sprague Dawley fracture model rats were assigned into group A
(n=20), group B (n=20), and group C (n=20) at random. All rats were fed by
gavage until their sacrifice as it follows: group A with ergosteroside and
risedronate, group B with risedronate, and group C with saline solution. At
weeks 2 and 4, 10 rats of each group were sacrificed. Healing effect and
bone tissue changes in the fractures site were assessed by using hematoxylin
and eosin stain histology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to
detect the expression of serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), bone
morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7), and vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was applied to
detect the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA, osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA
and core-binding factor subunit-?1 (CBF-?1) mRNA.
Results
In terms of serum BMP-2, BMP-7, and VEGF expression at weeks 2 and 4 after
gavage, group A < group B < group C (P<0.05). At week 4 after
gavage, serum VEGF expression in the three groups harbored positive
relationship with serum BMP-2 and BMP-7 expression (P<0.05). Regarding
serum OPG, OCN and CBF-?1 mRNA expression at weeks 2 and 4 after gavage,
group A