Osteoblastic Activity and Vascular Development of BMSCs and TCP Constructs In Vivo Evaluated by Bone Scintigraphy.

Osteogenic and vascular potential in bone regenerative therapy has been mainly examined in an animal-implantation study. We have here evaluated the applicability of bone scintigraphy in imaging bone formation, especially in its initial phase. The defect at the mid-portion of the double ulna in each canine was repaired with β-TCP cylinder alone (control group n=8) or BMSCs and β-TCP cylinder compound (experimental group n=8). Bone formation in the defects was compared between the two groups in the same ways. By radionuclide scintigraphy, significant difference was observed between the two groups at month one and two, but no significant difference at month three. The result showed osteoblastic activity persisted more in the defect repaired with BMSCs and β-TCP cylinder compound than with β-TCP cylinders alone. In conclusion, the bone scintigraphic methodology, although exhibiting less quantitation and resolution, could be applicable as a non-invasive, highly sensitive methodology in detecting the initial, microscopic changes associated with mineralization in tissue-engineered bone.