Induction of callus formation by implants of bone morphogenetic protein and associated bone matrix noncollagenous proteins.

Callus formation in the periosteal bone interface in response to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and associated bone matrix noncollagenous proteins (BMP/NCP) was investigated in mature adult rabbits. For controls byproducts of BMP/NCP purification, bone marrow, eight nonskeletal tissues, purified matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-rich protein (MGP), and a composite of BMP/NCP and polylactic-polyglycolic acid polymer (PLA/PGA) were also implanted in the periosteal bone interface. Quantitative microcomputer image analysis and histologic studies were performed three weeks after the implantation. BMP/NCP and bone marrow or BMP/NCP implanted over a single drill hole into the marrow cavity produced three times more new bone than the bone marrow alone. BMP/NCP alone produced twice as much new bone as bone marrow alone. Control implants of bovine serum albumin or purified MGP produced no new bone. Autogeneic minced muscle and ten nonskeletal tissue controls produced little or no bone formation. Even at one-fifth of the dose of BMP/NCP, a composite of PLA/PGA incorporating BMP/NCP showed almost the same amount of new bone as BMP alone. Histologically, the response to BMP/NCP consisted of an external callus of calcifying cartilage and woven bone. The response to subperiosteal implants of BMP/NCP or BMP/NCP with bone marrow or with minced muscle occurred with the same sequence of developmental events as seen either in embryonic skeletogenesis or in fracture callus.