Capability of new bone formation with a mixture of hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate granules.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this experimental study was to test a mixture of hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) granules inserted in cranial defects in rabbits, by the evaluation of the hard tissues volume, new bone formation, and residual graft after 4 and 8 weeks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two defects of 8 mm diameter were created at the calvarial bone of 24 Japanese white rabbits for a total of 48 defects. Four groups were created: defects filled with a mixture of HA and beta-TCP granules (test A), defects filled with HA alone (test B), defects filled with beta-TCP (test C), and empty defects (control). Hard tissues volume (remaining graft + new bone) was evaluated by µ-CT and new bone (NB) and remaining graft (RG) percentages were evaluated by histomorphometry. The animals were sacrificed at 4 or 8 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: The test groups A, B, and C showed a significant higher total volume compared with controls at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.05). Regarding the percentages of NB and RG at 4 and 8 weeks, no significant differences were detected (P > 0.05). When comparing 4 and 8 weeks, test group A showed a significant increase in new bone formation. At both 4 and 8 weeks, no group showed significant differences in NB (P > 0.05). At 8 weeks, test group B had more RG than test group A. CONCLUSIONS: The novel mixture could maintain the volume of the grafted area compared with that with intervention, and in a similar way compared with HA.

An in situ hybridization and histochemical study of development and postnatal changes of mouse mandibular angular cartilage compared with condylar cartilage.

To investigate the origin and postnatal changes of mouse mandibular angular cartilage, in situ hybridization for cartilaginous marker proteins, histochemistry for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) analyses were performed. Chondrocytes of the mandibular angular cartilage were derived from ALP-positive progenitor cells and first detected at embryonic day (E) 15.5. Newly formed chondrocytes rapidly differentiated into hypertrophic chondrocytes and hypertrophic cell zone rapidly extended in subsequent a few days. During this period, bone sialoprotein mRNA was more widely expressed than osteopontin mRNA in cartilage. Endochondral bone formation started at E 17.5 with the resorption of the bone collar by osteoclasts. These characteristics were consistent with those of the condylar cartilage, although developmental process was 0.5-1.5 day delayed relative to the condylar cartilage. During the postnatal period, contrast to the condylar cartilage, the angular cartilage constantly decreased in volume with advancing age. Reduction of proliferating activity estimated by BrDU incorporation accounts for this phenomenon. We demonstrate new structural features of the mandibular angular cartilage that may contribute to a coming research for the secondary cartilage.

[The effect of platelet-rich plasma combined with autogenous bone graft for bone regeneration in bone defects].

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of PRP on bone healing both quantitatively and qualitatively using histomorphometrical methods in a rabbit model. The examined materials were autogenous bone, PRP alone, a mixture of autogenous bone and PRP, and whole blood (as a control). These materials were implanted into artificial defects prepared in rabbit tibiae. The observation period was set at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. All specimens were used for histologic evaluation and 2- and 4-week specimens were used for histomorphometrical evaluations. The bone quantity increased when autogenous bone was applied but the percentage of mature bone in the autogenous bone site was smaller than in the PRP applied site. The results of this study suggested that the quantity of newly formed bone increased when autogenous bone was applied, but not when PRP only was applied. However, PRP might accelerate bone maturation by activating bone remodeling. According to this study, the bone quality could be altered by the application of PRP.