Effect of Mongolian medicine alcohol spray therapy on fracture healing in rabbits

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the healing effect and mechanism of Mongolian medicine alcohol spray therapy on fracture healing process in rabbits. Methods: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal, fracture, and treatment groups, with 10 rabbits in each group. Fracture and treatment groups underwent bone-fracture modeling, with the latter receiving daily alcohol spraying and stroking for six weeks. Serum calcium and phosphorus were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of BMP-2, ALP, and TGF-β. Biomechanical testing was performed to assess callus properties, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot were performed to assess BMP-2, Runx2, and p-Smad1/5 expressions in callus. Results: There were low serum calcium, phosphorus, BMP-2, ALP, and TGF-β levels in fracture and treatment groups, compared to normal group. Similarly, treatment group showed significantly increased levels of serum calcium, phosphorus, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) (p < 0.05) compared to fracture group. Biomechanical testing revealed that maximum load, stiffness, and deflection of callus in the fracture and treatment groups were significantly lower compared to normal group (p < 0.05). expressions of BMP-2, Runx2, and p-Smad1/5 mRNA in the callus significantly decreased in both fracture and treatment groups compared to normal group (p < 0.05). However, treatment group showed significantly increased expression levels compared to fracture group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Mongolian medicine alcohol spray therapy promotes fracture healing in rabbits and increases maximum load of the callus, possibly through upregulation of the BMP-2 signaling pathway. Further research is necessary to confirm the exact mechanism by which alcohol spray therapy regulates BMP-2 signaling pathway.