RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) on new bone formation in the orthopedically expanded premaxillary sutures in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisting of Sprague Dawley rats (male, n = 14) was split in half by random selection: the experiment group (Sal B) and the control group. The premaxillary suture of each rat was expanded by bonding an open-loop spring to two maxillary incisors, each end to one tooth. A 5-day expansion period followed by a 12-day retention period was conducted. The 17-day intraperitoneal administration of Sal B was performed daily for the experiment group at a dose of 40 mg/kilo. The trial was completed after sacrificing the rats and dissection of the premaxillae for histological analysis. The amount of new bone, quantity of capillaries and intensity of inflammatory cells were histomorphometrically determined while the quantities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts were determined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The Sal B group was significantly different from the control group and had greater quantities of new bone, capillaries, inflammatory cells, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. CONCLUSIONS: Salvianolic acid B displays a positive effect during premaxillary expansion with a greater number of capillaries potentially in association with higher bone formation and improved angiogenesis in rats.
