Effect of Collagen Cross-Link Deficiency on Incorporation of Grafted Bone

Bone matrix collagen, is one of the major contributors to bone quality. No studies have examined how bone quality affects the results of bone transplantation. Collagen cross-links (CCL) are the key factor in collagen properties. The purpose was to investigate the influences of CCL for both grafted bone and recipient site bone on the success of bone augmentation. Four-week-old male Wister rats (n = 54) were divided into control and test groups. Control and test groups equally sub-divided into donors and recipients. An additional six rats were used to characterize bone at day zero. Test groups received 0.2% beta-aminoproperionitrile (BAPN) for 4 weeks as CCL inhibitor. Animals were further divided into donor and recipient groups. The transplanted bone chips integrated with host bone by 25% more in CCL-deficient animals compared to control. However, no difference in cortical thickness among all conditions. CCL-deficient transplanted bone did not show any extra signs of osteocyte apoptosis, while sclerostin expression was comparable to that in control. The host periosteum of CCL-deficient animals showed higher cellular activity, as well as higher bone quantity and osteoclast activity. Collagen cross-links deficiency in host bone might accelerate the incorporation of grafted bone. effect. Incorporation of the bone grafts appears to depend mainly on host condition rather than graft condition.