Experimental study on the effect of metallic copper on fracture healing in chicken
S.F. Bao1, L. Zhao1, Y.J. Liu2, T. Cong1, Z.J. Cheng1, Z. Li1, H. Tian3
1 Trace Element Research Laboratory, 2 Department of Orthopedics, 3 0 1 Hospital, Beijing, and 3 Pharmaceutical Factory, Harbin, P.R. China
DOI 10.5414/TEP20008
Abstract
Material and methods: One hundred and sixty growing chickens aged 70 days were fed in 32 cages, 5 each. The fracture with 1 – 2 mm defects at bilateral radius of wings was created by osteotomies. The chickens were then divided into 4 groups, 40 each. Every morning, the first group chickens as the control, were fed orally with 0.8% Na-CMC solution (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), the other 3 groups with copper Na-CMC suspension (copper powder suspended in 0.8% Na-CMC) of different doses: 20, 40 and 80 mg Cu/kg body weight. All the chickens had free access to water and diet containing Cu 5.4 mg/kg diet. Ten chickens of each group were sacrificed at the 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th day postoperatively. Liver was taken for analysis of Cu and Zn content. Both radii were removed by dissection. Computed tomography scan (CT) was performed for measuring gray values of callus quantitatively. The biomechanical properties of the healing radius were analyzed by a 3-point bending test. Afterwards, the contents of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron and hydroxyproline in callus were determined. Results: The gray values of callus increased along with the increase of copper dose and the observing duration. At the 21st and 35th day after operation, the gray values of callus in the high-Cu group were significantly higher than that in the control, respectively (909 ± 220 vs. 597 ± 155; 973 ± 100 vs. 763 ± 179 HU p < 0.05). The calcium and magnesium in callus 35 days post operation were found to be much higher in middle and high Cu groups than that in the control, respectively (Ca: 177 ± 26.7, 176 ± 20.5 vs. 137 ± 34.7 mg/g; Mg: 2.98 ± 0.57, 3.06 ± 0.46, vs. 2.43 ± 0.53 mg/g; p < 0.05). The contents of hydroxyproline in callus 35 days post operation in high-Cu group were significantly higher than that in the control: 34.23 ± 1.96 vs. 32.17 ± 1.93 mg/g, p < 0.05. The biomechanical properties of repaired radius had the same tendency. Conclusion: Copper is helpful in fracture healing. However, the mechanism of the effect of copper on fracture healing is still to be further identified.
Author Details
Authors
Departments
- 1 Trace Element Research Laboratory,
- 2 Department of Orthopedics,
- 3
- 0
- 1 Hospital, Beijing, and
- 3 Pharmaceutical Factory, Harbin, P.R. China
Address
Citation
S.F. Bao, L. Zhao, Y.J. Liu, T. Cong, Z.J. Cheng, Z. Li and H. Tian.Experimental study on the effect of metallic copper on fracture healing in chicken. 2003; 20: 8-15. doi: 10.5414/TEP20008.
