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A Rat Tibial Growth Plate Injury Model to Characterize Repair Mechanisms and Evaluate Growth Plate Regeneration Strategies
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Control of Bone Growth by Fibroblast Growth Factors

De Luca F1, Baron

  • 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|May 14, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulate bone growth. FGF-2 impacts growth plate chondrocytes and ossification, with effects varying by dose and administration method.

Area of Science:

  • Skeletal biology and growth plate development.

Background:

  • Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) are known negative regulators of longitudinal bone growth.
  • Mutations in FGFR3 are linked to skeletal dysplasias (impairing growth) or overgrowth conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dual role of FGF-2 in regulating bone growth, considering dose-dependent and localized effects.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which FGF-2 influences chondrogenesis and ossification within the growth plate.

Main Methods:

  • Systemic administration of FGF-2 to mice at varying doses.
  • Organ culture of growth plates with FGF-2 treatment.
  • Assessment of chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophy, and cartilage matrix synthesis.
  • Evaluation of growth plate ossification rates.

Main Results:

  • Low systemic doses of FGF-2 stimulated bone growth in mice.
  • High systemic doses of FGF-2 inhibited bone growth.
  • In vitro, FGF-2 decreased chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophy, and matrix synthesis.
  • Local FGF-2 infusion accelerated growth plate ossification.

Conclusions:

  • FGF-2 exhibits a dose-dependent effect on longitudinal bone growth.
  • FGF-2 plays a complex role in regulating both chondrogenesis and ossification processes within the growth plate.

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