Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of vascular bundle implantation in autogenous bone graft on angiogenesis. Methods Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were evaluated in this study. A portion of bilateral  radial bones of a rabbit were removed as free bone grafts, whose periostea were peeled off. In test group, the external maxillary artery bundle was passed through the marrow cavity of the bone. In control group, there was no vascular bundle implantation. Each bone was placed in masseter muscle separately. The rabbits were sacrificed and the specimens were procured at 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after surgery for histological observation, Chinese ink perfusion and CD34 immunohistochemistry. Microvessel density（MVD） was assessed in order to evaluate angiogenesis of autogenous bone grafts. Results The bone grafts were found revascularization in 3 days after surgery in the test group, whereas at 2 weeks in the control group. In 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery, the MVD of test group was significantly higher than that of control group. In 4 weeks after surgery, angiogenesis of test group reached to peak. Conclusion Vascular bundle implantation improved angiogenesis in non-vascularized autogenous bone graft in this study.

Key words: non-vascularized autogenous bone graft, vascular bundle implantation, microvessel density