Preparation and Effectiveness of Biologically Active Polypeptides from Fetal Bones for Stimulation of Chondrogenesis

A biologically active complex of polypeptides was obtained from fetal bone to stimulate chondrogenesis. Its effectiveness was studied on the model of cartilage defect healing in rats. The biologically active complex was isolated from the intercellular matrix of long tubular bones of dog fetuses (57 – 63 d of fetal development). The resulting complex (0.1 mLvolume) was introduced into a cartilage defect in 10 rats (experimental group). Normal saline (0.1 mL) was injected into the defect in 10 animals of the control group. It was found that the sizes of the defects in experimental animals on the 30th day of the experiment were statistically significantly less than in the control group. The defect region was completely filled in animals of both groups on the 180th day of the experiment. However, the cartilage flexibility was statistically significantly lower in the control than in the experimental group. It is believed that the intercellular substance of fetal bone tissue can be a source of biologically active components that can stimulate reparative chondrogenesis (growth factors, procollagen and/or its derivatives).