Young, adult, and old rats have similar changes in mRNA expression of many skeletal genes after fracture despite delayed healing with age.

Genes active in fracture healing are not well understood. Because age slows skeletal repair, the change in gene expression between animals of differing ages may illuminate novel pathways important to this healing response. To explore this, 6-, 26-, and 52-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to mid-diaphyseal femoral fracture with intramedullary fixation.