SYNOPSIS
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate effects of VEGF on osteosclerosis with poor blood supply. Teflon cylinders, of which bottoms were covered with e-PTFE membranes, were embedded in two anterior and two posterior regions one of the rabbit skulls. The cylinders were packed with collagen sponge containing 0.2 µg VEGF or sterile physiological saline. Four weeks later, the membranes were removed. Histological analysis was performed before removing the membrane (week0), one week (week1), two weeks (week2), three weeks (week3), and four weeks (week4) after removing the membrane. At week4, newly-formed bone was analyzed with µCT and image analysis software.
Compared to the anterior region, blood supply was anatomically favorable in the posterior region. At week0, favorable neovascularization was seen in the posterior cylinder with VEGF. However, slightly inferior neovascularization was found in the anterior cylinder with VEGF. After week2, the most extensive osteogenesis was observed in the posterior cylinder with VEGF. At week4, newly-formed bone thickened and matured. The amount of newly-formed bone in the anterior cylinder with physiological saline was the smallest.
The results suggest that VEGF can facilitate neovascularization and osteogenesis in osteosclerosis.

Key words: VEGF, neovascularization, osteogenesis