Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor expression during the process of fracture healing.

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression regularity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during the process of fracture healing, and the type of VEGF receptor expressed in the vascular endothelial cells of the fracture site. METHODS: The fracture model was made in the middle part of left radius in 35 rabbits. The specimens from the fracture site were harvested at 8, 24, 72 hours and 1, 3, 5, 8 weeks, and then fixed, decalcified, and sectioned frozenly to detect the expression of VEGF and its receptor at the fracture site by in situ hybridization and immunochemical assays. RESULTS: VEGF mRNA and VEGF expression was detected in many kinds of cells at the fracture site during 8 hours to 8 weeks after fracture. Flt1 receptor of VEGF was found in the vascular endothelial cells at the fracture site during 8 hours to 8 weeks after fracture, and strong expression of flk1 receptor was detected from 3 days to 3 weeks after fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of VEGF and flt1 receptor appears during the whole course of fracture healing, especially from 1 to 3 weeks. Flk1 receptor is highly expressed in a definite period after fracture. VEGF is proved to be involved in the vascular reconstruction and fracture healing.