Gene expression profiles in guided bone regeneration using combinations of different biomaterials: a pilot animal study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression profile related to guided bone regeneration (GBR) at the early healing stage while using combinations of different biomaterials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cranial defects in 4 New Zealand rabbits were filled with A) biphasic calcium phosphate/experimental pericardium-derived collagen membrane, B) Bio-Oss® /Bio-Gide® , C) biphasic calcium phosphate/strontium hydroxyapatite-containing collagen membrane and D) Bio-Oss® /strontium hydroxyapatite-containing collagen membrane. Seven days after surgery, one animal was subjected to histological observation and histomorphometric analysis, and three animals to real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An RT2 Profiler PCR Array (PANZ-026Z, QIAGEN, QIAGEN Sciences, Germantown, MD, USA) was conducted to observe the gene expression profile of groups A, C and D as compared with the control group B. RESULTS: The analysis showed 9 of the 84 genes on the array to be significantly different in the three experimental groups (six genes in group D, four in group C and one in group A). Group D demonstrated the most changes in gene expression profile at day 7. Genes that were significantly down-regulated (AHSG, EGF) or up-regulated (CDH11, MMP13, GLI1 and MCSF) are responsible for early-stage bone formation, bone remodeling and pre-osteoclast development. The gene expression profile of this group correlated with the histological findings, as this group showed the higher formation of osteoid as compared with the other groups. CONCLUSION: Gene expression patterns at early-stage healing of GBR-treated defects appear to be related to the biomaterial used. The combination of Bio-Oss® and strontium hydroxyapatite-containing collagen membrane showed the most pro-osteogenic gene regulation profile (group D), implying the stimulation of key transcriptional factors, which appeared to translate into the up-regulation of the osteogenic process and earlier bone formation.

The effect of local application of low-magnitude high-frequency vibration on the bone healing of rabbit calvarial defects-a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of local application of low-magnitude high-frequency vibration (LMHFV) on the bone healing of rabbit calvarial defects that were augmented with different grafting materials and membranes. METHODS: Four calvarial defects were created in each of two New Zealand rabbits and filled with the following materials: biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), deproteinized bovine bone mineral covered with a non-cross-linked collagen membrane (BO/BG), biphasic calcium phosphate covered with a strontium hydroxyapatite-containing collagen membrane (BCP/SR), and non-cross-linked collagen membrane (BG). Four defects in one rabbit served as a control, while the other was additionally subjected to the local LMHFV protocol of 40 Hz, 16 min per day. The rabbits were sacrificed 1 week after surgery. Histomorphometric analysis was performed to determine the percentages of different tissue compartments. RESULTS: Compared to the control defects, the higher percentage of osteoid tissue was found in LMHFV BG defects (35.3 vs. 19.3%), followed by BCP/SR (17.3 vs. 2.0%) and BO/BG (9.3 vs. 1.0%). The fraction occupied by the residual grafting material varied from 40.3% in BO/BG to 22.3% in BCP/SR LMHFV defects. Two-way models revealed that material type was only significant for the osteoid (P= 0.045) and grafting material (P = 0.001) percentages, while the vibration did not provide any statistical significance for all histomorphometric outcomes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Local application of LMHFV did not appear to offer additional benefit in the initial healing phase of rabbit calvarial defects. Histomorphometric measurements after 1 week of healing demonstrated more pronounced signs of early bone formation in both rabbits that were related with material type and independent of LMHFV.