The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)transfected with the basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)-expressing recombinant adeno-associated virus vector(rAAV2-bFGF),on early angiogenesis of calvarial defects in rats.The MSCs were cultured and transfected with rAAV2-bFGF after differential adherence isolation.The transfection efficiency was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.The transfected MSCs were compounded with poly-DL-lactide/hydroxyapatite(PDLLA/HA)in vitro.The cranial defect models in36 malc SD rats were created.Nothing(group A),PDLLA/HA alone(group B),PDLLA/HA combined with MSCs(group C),and PDLLA/HA combined with rAAV2-bFGF transfected MSCs(group D)were implanted in rat calvarial defects.The specimens were harvested for hematoxylin-eosin staining on the day 1,3 and 7 after implantation.Factor Ⅷ immunohistochemical staining and histomorphometric analysis were carried out to evaluate neovascularization around the implantation.The results indicated that MSCs could indeed be successfully transfected with the rAAV2-bFGF vector.Histological and histomorphometric analysis revealed that the angiogenesis in group D was significantly enhanced as compared with the rest groups(P