Purpose: Distraction osteogenesis(DO)is widely used in treating bone deformities and defects.However,inferior alveolar nerve(IAN)injury is a concern in mandibular DO.The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of lentiviral-mediated human nerve growth factor beta(hNGFβ)of the IAN in the rabbit model of mandible DO.Methods: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)from rabbit mandibles were isolated and genetically engineered using recombinant lentiviral vector containing hNGFβ.Twenty New Zealand white rabbits underwent mandibular DO,and 5 million MSCs transduced with hNGFβ-vector or control vector were transplanted around the IAN in the bone fracture gap during the surgery(n=10 for each group).After gradual distraction,IAN samples were harvested for nerve histologic and histomorphometric analysis.