| Objective To investigate the role of β-TCP in bone defect repairing in osteoporotic rats. Methods Twenty SD rats were ovariectomized and fed for 3 months to establish the osteoporosis model. Subsequently, bone defects were created in bilateral femoral metaphysis by surgery. Successful osteoporosis bone defect models were divided into 2 groups, including β-TCP group and control group. β-TCP was embedded into bone defect in β-TCP group. No treatment was performed in control group. Gross observation, X-ray radiographs, tissue pathological observation, and Micro-CT observation were conducted 4 and 8 weeks after the surgery. Results X-ray radiographs showed that bone tissue growth was obvious in bone defect zone 4 weeks and 8 weeks after surgery in β-TCP group. HE staining showed that there were considerable amount of trabeculae and spindle shaped, deep stained osteoblasts. Micro-CT showed that bone micro-structure was comparatively well repaired, and the bone mineral density of the femur increased significantly. X-ray radiographs showed few bone growth, few trabeculae or bone lamella structure, and irregular distribution in control group. Micro-CT indicated that bone micro-structure was not desirably repaired, and the increase of bone mineral density of the femoral was not obvious. Conclusion β-TCP can comparatively well repair femoral metaphysis bone defect in osteoporotic rats. |