Fig. 4.

X-ray analysis of critical size defects of rabbit ulnae. An ulnar critical size defect model was used to evaluate the efficacy of BMP6 in bone healing of adult male New Zealand white rabbits. Blood was collected from rabbit marginal ear veins into tubes without any anticoagulant substance in which BMP6 or BMP7 were added. Animals were divided into three groups (n = 8) and defects were treated with: modified whole blood containing device as a carrier (WBCD) alone (a, d), a commercial device containing 1 g of bovine collagen and 3.5 mg of BMP7 (Osigraft) (b, e), and WBCD containing 100 μg BMP6 (c, f) in vivo eight weeks later. Healing was followed by X-rays and μCT (not shown) over a period of 12 weeks. Healing dynamics (g) was analysed by radiographic grading scores (0–6) [132] and BV/TV values determined by μCT [128]