OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution and effect of endogenic bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in repairing rabbit skull with tissue engineered bone. METHODS: The autologous osteoblast-like cells were instantly implanted onto polyglycolic acid (PGA) matrix coated with collagen. The rabbit skull defect models were established by resection of bilateral 1.5 cm x 1.0 cm full-thickness parietal bone in 18 New Zealand rabbits, which were randomly divided into two groups. In one group, the composite of osteoblast- like cells and PGA matrix were grafted into the defect on one side of the skull as experimental group I, leaving the same defect area on the other side as control group without any graft implanted. In the other group, simply PGA was done in the same way as experimental group II. The tissue samples were harvested at 3, 8 and 14 days postoperatively and examined by histological and immunohistochemistry methods. The concentrations of BMP in different regions of the samples were measured using computer image analysis system. RESULTS: After 3 days of operation, the BMP positive cells were found in the matrix of experimental group I. At 8 days postoperatively, the formation of new bone on experimental group I was prior to that of experimental group II and control group. On the 14th day, bone trabecula was formed on the experimental group I, but there was only fibrous tissue on control group. The concentration of BMP on the experimental group I and II were higher than that of corresponding region on control side. CONCLUSION: The osteoblast-like cells instantly implanted onto PGA matrix can synthesize and secrete BMP. It may be one of the reasons of tissue engineered bone inducing new bone regeneration that localizing endogenic BMP in bone defect area, increasing the concentration of endogenic BMP and improving its distribution by tissue engineering technique.