Tendon healing stimulated by injected CDMP-2.

Abstract

Tendon healing stimulated by injected CDMP-2. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 33, No. 5, 2001, pp. 685-687. CDMP-2 is a member of the TFG-beta super-family. It is known to induce bone and cartilage formation but has also been shown under certain conditions to induce a tendon- and ligament-like tissue. The purpose of this study was to find possibilities for improvement of Achilles tendon repair during nonoperative treatment, by local injections of CDMP-2. Fifty rats had a 3-mm segment of the Achilles tendon removed. Six hours postoperatively, CDMP-2 was injected locally into the defect at a dose of 0, 2, 10, or 50 microg. Eight days after the operation, the rats were killed and the tensile strength of the repairing tendons was measured with a materials testing machine. After 8 d, the CDMP-2-treated tendons were 39% stronger than the controls (P = 0.0008). One single injection CDMP-2 can augment tendon repair. Mechanical stimulation is of great importance for tissue differentiation and tendon repair. The tendons in our model were mechanically loaded during healing and this might explain why CDMP-2 injections induced a strong tendon-like tissue instead of bone or cartilage in this model.