Effectiveness of rhBMP-2 association to autogenous, allogeneic, and heterologous bone grafts.

Proteins with osteoinductive potential, especially recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2, have large effects on cell growth and their differentiation. The aim of this study was to assess repair of bone defects in rat calvaria with different types of grafts associated with rhBMP-2, through immunohistochemistry and micro computed tomography (CT) analyses. A total of 35 male Wistar rats were selected, each weighing ~250 g, with a waiting period of 6 weeks from the creation of the defect to the sacrifice, and divided into five groups (n = 7): autograft plus 5 μg rhBMP-2 (AuG/BMP-2); allograft plus 5 μg rhBMP-2 (AlG/BMP-2); xenograft (heterologous) plus 5 μg rhBMP-2 (XeG/BMP-2); 5 μg rhBMP-2 (BMP-2) and the control group (n = 7).