Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor during distraction osteogenesis.

Distraction osteogenesis is a process of tissue regeneration under an external mechanical stimulation. In the study, the spatial and temporal expression patterns of basic fibroblast growth factor in the newly formed osseous tissue during distraction osteogenesis in goats were studied using immunohistochemistry. During the distraction period, the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor was observed in the osteoblasts on the newly formed trabecular bone and the bone formation front. The cells of osteoblastic lineage and the mesenchymal cells in the distraction callus also expressed basic fibroblast growth factor. The expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in the distraction period was stronger than that during the latency and consolidation periods. However, some osteoblasts still were expressing basic fibroblast growth factor in the consolidation periods. According to these results, basic fibroblast growth factor may have a local regulatory role during distraction osteogenesis. The tensile force may stimulate the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in osteoblasts and other cell types.