Construction of Radial Defect Models in Rabbits to Determine the Critical Size Defects

Ming-Dong Zhao; Jian-Shu Huang; Xin-Chao Zhang; Ke-Ke Gui; Min Xiong; Wang-Ping Yin; Feng-Lai Yuan; Guo-Ping Cai

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146301

Construction of Radial Defect Models in Rabbits to Determine the Critical Size Defects

PLoS One. 2016 Jan 5;11(1):e0146301. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146301. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Ming-Dong Zhao¹, Jian-Shu Huang², Xin-Chao Zhang¹, Ke-Ke Gui¹, Min Xiong¹, Wang-Ping Yin¹, Feng-Lai Yuan³, Guo-Ping Cai¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China.
² Department of Occupational medicine, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China.
³ Department of Orthopaedics and Central Laboratory, the third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214041, China.

Abstract

Many studies aimed at investigating bone repair have been conducted through animal models in recent years. However, limitations do exist in these models due to varying regeneration potential among different animal species. Even using the same animal, big differences exist in the size of critical size defects (CSD) involving the same region. This study aimed to investigate the standardization of radial bone defect models in rabbits and further establish more reliable CSD data. A total of 40 6-month-old New Zealand white rabbits of clean grade totaling 80 radial bones were prepared for bone defect models, according to the principle of randomization. Five different sizes (1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0 cm) of complete periosteal defects were introduced under anesthesia. At 12 weeks postoperatively, with the gradual increase in defect size, the grades of bone growth were significantly decreased in all 5 groups. X-ray, CT scans and H&E staining of the 1.4, 1.7, and 2.0-cm groups showed lower grades of bone growth than that of the 1.0 and 1.2-cm groups respectively (P < 0.05). Using rabbit radial defect model involving 6-month-old healthy New Zealand white rabbits, this study indicates that in order to be critical sized, defects must be greater than 1.4 cm.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Bone Regeneration / physiology*
Models, Animal
Rabbits
Radius / growth & development*

Grants and funding

This study was in part supported by Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau youth Foundation (2012-138, Zhao MD and 2012-167, Huang JS), Nature Science Foundation (81202160, Huang JS), Shanghai Health and Family Planning Commission Project (2014-403, Zhang XC) and Shanghai Young Physician Training Program (2012-30, 2012-31, Zhao MD). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.