RESUMO
Objective To explore the effects of flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae on the formation of blood vessels in the induced membrane by Masquelet technique. Methods Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,namely model group,and high-,middle-and low-dose drug groups,18 rats in each group. Rat model of critical- sized femoral defect was built,and then polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)bone cement spacer was inserted into the bone defect to induce the formation of membrane. From the first day after surgery , the rats in high-,middle-and low-dose drug groups were given gastric gavage of 0.44,0.22,0.11 g·kg-1·d-1 of Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids, respectively, and the rats in the model group were given the same volume of normal saline. After 6-week medication,the pathologic features of bone cement- induced membrane were observed by Haematoxilin-Eosin(HE)staining,the contents of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)proteins in the induced membrane were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF in the induced membrane were determined by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results More blood vessels in the induced membrane of the high-dose group were found than those of the other groups under the light microscope. The protein and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF in the induced membrane of the 3 drug groups were much higher than those of the model group(P < 0.05). Except for the VEGF mRNA expression level, the changes of other indexes were dose-dependent. Conclusion Flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae are effective on enhancing the protein and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF in the induced membrane, and can accelerate the vascularization,which promotes the reconstruction of bone defect.