Effect of insulin-like growth factor type 1 on critical-size defects in diabetic rats.

A number of investigators have reported on the clinically significant relationship between diabetes mellitus and impaired wound healing. Diabetic patients have an increased frequency of infection, delayed scar formation, and poor bony union. Investigations completed in our laboratory have demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1), a somatomedin C, has shown promise for accelerating bony repair. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of recombinant IGF-1 on standardized, critical-size calvarial defects in 25 adult, male streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. From our study, it appears that IGF-1 exerts a potentiating effect on the repair of bony defects in diabetes-induced rats.