[Promoting effect of L-dopa on experimental fracture healing]

This study was planned to investigate the effect of oral administration of L-Dopa, made in China, on fracture healing and to look into its activity or metabolic influence on biomechanical healing process. Both the tibia and fibula of left leg of 185 Wistar rats were manually fractured, but left alone without fixation, and were treated for 15 days. For the experimental group of animals, L-Dopa in suspension, 0.4 gm/kg BW, was given daily; for the control one, only the same amount of saline solution. 12 to 24 hours following intraperitoneal injection of radioisotope tracers, 35S-sodium sulfate and 45Ca-calcium chloride non-carrier solution, were used. The animals in group were put to death at the 5 10 15 20 30- and 40-th day respectively after fracture. The fracture specimens were taken and processed for examination and quantitative assessment. The data showed that the amount of sulphur in the primary callus was increasing up to the peak on the tenth day; it was greater, statistically significant, in the test group (0.19 +/- 0.05 DPM%) than in the control one (0.13 +/- 0.05 DPM%). They showed too that the amount of calcium incorporated in the callus was also increasing up to a top point but at the 15-th day; it was as well greatly, statistically significant in the test group (4.50 +/- 1.16 DPM%) than in the control one (2.65 +/- 1.90 DPM%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)