No effect of systemic administration of somatomedin C on bone repair in rats

The effect of somatomedin C on the bone repair process was studied in a rat femoral osteotomy. We used continuous systemic administration of human recombinant somatomedin C (110 micrograms/100 g per day). Radiographic evaluation after 4 weeks showed no effect of somatomedin C on the healing. There was no effect on mechanical strength, and no effect was found on callus vascularization or mineralization. The weight of the callus was slightly reduced in the somatomedin C treated rats. The results were not suggestive of any acceleration with systemic somatomedin C treatment in the early phase of cortical bone repair.