Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The protective mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is focus on cellular necrosis of skin and ligament reparation, studies regarding meniscus are few.
OBJECTIVE: To explore whether VEGF could induce vascular endothelial cell proliferation into white area of injured meniscus, and promote healing of meniscus.
METHODS: Totally 24 New Zealand white rabbits were prepared for hind limb injured meniscus posterior horn models and randomly divided into the experimental group and control group. The experimental group received intra-articular injection of VEGF. The gross and histological observations of meniscus were performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared to control group, there have more proliferated vascular, fibroblast, and has appeared hyaline cartilage cells in Experimental group in the first week after operation. The cartilage layer of experimental is group thicker than that of the control group in 3 weeks after operation; the experimental group has cartilage layer and osteoblast bone matrix in 12 weeks after operation. Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes the occurrence of blood vessels, thereby promoting repair of injured area in early postoperative period; however, the ingrowth of blood vessels promotes endochondral bone and damages repaired cartilage layer at late stage.