Objective The aim of this
paper was to evaluate the repair of
onlay autogenous
bone grafts covered or not covered by an expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene (e-
PTFE)
membrane using
immunohistochemistry in
rats with induced
estrogen deficiency. Material and
Methods Eighty
female rats were randomly divided into two groups ovariectomized (OVX) and with a simulation of the
surgical procedure (SHAM). Each of these groups was again divided into groups with either placement of an autogenous
bone graft alone (BG) or an autogenous
bone graft associated with an e-
PTFE membrane (BGM).
Animals were euthanized on days 0, 7, 21, 45, and 60. The specimens were subjected to
immunohistochemistry for
bone sialoprotein (BSP),
osteonectin (ONC), and
osteocalcin (OCC). Results All groups (OVX+BG, OVX+BMG, SHAM+BG, and SHAM+BMG) showed greater
bone formation, observed between 7 and 21 days, when BSP and ONC
staining were more intense. At the 45-day, the
bone graft showed direct bonding to the recipient
bed in all specimens. The ONC and OCC showed more expressed in
granulation tissue, in the
membrane groups, independently of
estrogen deficiency. Conclusions The expression of
bone forming markers was not negatively influenced by
estrogen deficiency. However, the markers could be influenced by the presence of the e-
PTFE membrane. .