Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 accelerates healing of transected rat Achilles tendon and in vitro stimulates tendocytes growth.
Staresinic M, Sebecic B, Patrlj L et al. · Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · PMID 14554208
Study summary
Main finding
Treated rats had improved tendon mechanical, functional, and histological measures compared with controls. Cell experiments also examined responses to an aldehyde that inhibits growth.
Rats with surgically cut Achilles tendons were compared with saline-treated controls. Assessments were made over 14 days, alongside separate tendon-cell culture experiments.
What the researchers measured
Walking-related function, the force needed to break the healing tendon, tendon stiffness, and tissue appearance under a microscope. Cell experiments tested responses to a growth-inhibiting aldehyde.
How to read this evidence
Researchers studied cells, isolated tissue, or animals. These experiments can help explain a mechanism, but do not establish benefits or safety in people. Human cells grown in a laboratory also belong in this category.
Results in context
The reported effects involved several aspects of repair in this surgical rat model, rather than a single cell marker. Mechanical measurements describe the tested tendon; they do not predict recovery time for a person with a tendon injury.
What this does not establish
Surgically injured rat tendons are not clinical human injuries. Follow-up was short, and these findings do not establish long-term safety or efficacy in people.
Publication & source
Why this paper is included
The compound is a named subject of the publication title.
Publication indexing
Journal Article · Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't