Fibroblast growth factor-2 promotes the repair of partial thickness defects of articular cartilage in immature rabbits but not in mature rabbits.

Objective: To investigate cartilage response to fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) with increasing age in vivo, we examined the effect of FGF-2 on partial thickness defects of immature and mature rabbits.

Design: Sixty-nine Japanese white rabbits (34 immature rabbits, 35 mature rabbits) were examined. We made experimental partial thickness defects in articular cartilage of the knees.