Abstract: PURPOSES: To observe the retention time and effect of acellular porcine pericardium (APP) in bone regeneration for rabbit femoral bone defects. METHODS: APP was prepared as follows: fresh porcine pericardium was chosen, high and low osmotic NaCl solution were used to soak the specimen alternately, trypsin+EDTA were used for digest, and then immersed with TritonX-100, cross-linked by using glutaraldehyde. 24 New Zealand rabbits were selected, and the area of bone defect was created 8 mm×8 mm×5 mm in size on bilateral distal femur. Stochastic method was used for grouping. One side of bone defect was covered with APP (experimental group); and the other side was covered without APP (control group). General observation, X-ray examination, histological examination, and bone mineral density (BMD) were performed 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after operation. SPSS18.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: After surgery, all wounds healed without complications. Under general observation, there were some fibrous cysts covered on the surface of APP. BMD (P<0.05) in the experimental group was significantly greater than that in the control group. On histological examination, the rate of osteogenesis in the experimental group was faster than that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Bone regeneration can be achieved using APP in the repair of rabbit bone defects. The retention time of APP can meet the needs of osteogenesis.

Key words: Acellular porcine pericardium, Guided bone regeneration, Bone density