Effect of dicarboxymethyl trisodium alginate on the expression of BMP-7 protein in bone tissues of rats with traumatic femoral neck fracture

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) is a pivotal skeletal growth factor. Sodium alginate (SA) is a natural polysaccharide polymer extracted from brown alga. Partial uronic acid units of sodium alginate can be transformed into aldehyde groups, namely dicarboxymethyl trisodium alginate (DCMTSA). In this investigation, rats with traumatic femoral neck fractures were selected. The rats treated with dicarboxymethyl trisodium alginate intervention were assigned to the experimental group, those treated with sodium alginate intervention were in the control group, and those receiving no medical intervention were in the placebo group. The expression of BMP-7 at both the protein and mRNA levels in the rat fracture tissues in all three groups was quantitatively detected by immunohistochemicals SP and RT-PCR. Results revealed that both dicarboxymethyl trisodium alginate and sodium alginate induced the up-regulation of BMP-7 expression. However, the effect of dicarboxymethyl trisodium alginate was superior to that of sodium alginate. Therefore, dicarboxymethyl trisodium alginate can be used to promote the release of BMP-7 from bone cells and contribute to the bone union in traumatic femoral neck fracture in rat models.