Figure 3.

Our experiment on the ectopic bone formation in the dorsum of mice with collagen-based scaffolds. (a) Scanning electron microscope image of a freeze-dried collagen scaffold. Scale bar, 50 μm. (b) Histopathological image at one week after surgery. The collagen is combined with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and transplanted onto the dorsal muscle fascia of mice. Collagen fibers (arrow heads) remained, while woven bones (arrows) were formed around the fibers. Scale bar, 200 μm. (c) At three weeks after surgery, no collagen fibers were observed, and mature bones consisting of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and bone marrow tissue were formed. Scale bar, 200 μm.