0000000000583212
AUTHOR
Ernst B. Hunziker
Perlecan Maintains the Integrity of Cartilage and Some Basement Membranes
Perlecan is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is expressed in all basement membranes (BMs), in cartilage, and several other mesenchymal tissues during development. Perlecan binds growth factors and interacts with various extracellular matrix proteins and cell adhesion molecules. Homozygous mice with a null mutation in the perlecan gene exhibit normal formation of BMs. However, BMs deteriorate in regions with increased mechanical stress such as the contracting myocardium and the expanding brain vesicles showing that perlecan is crucial for maintaining BM integrity. As a consequence, small clefts are formed in the cardiac muscle leading to blood leakage into the pericardial cavity and an ar…
The Influence of PRP on Early Bone Formation in Membrane Protected Defects. A Histological and Histomorphometric Study in the Rabbit Calvaria
Background: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been proposed to be a useful adjunct to bone grafting. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess new bone formation in bone regeneration procedures using platelet rich plasma (PRP) alone or in combination with autogenous bone. Materials and Methods: Four surgically created, monocortical defects 5 mm in diameter in the calvariae of 15 New Zealand rabbits were grafted with a coagulum-filled control, PRP, particulated autogenous bone alone (A), or combined with PRP (A-PRP). Results: Mean platelet concentration of 1,761,930 ± 680,200/µl was achieved (5.30 ± 2.63 × fold of baseline). Animals were sacrificed 1, 2, and 4 weeks later. Histomorpho…