Biological evaluation of the bone healing process after application of two potentially osteogenic proteins: an animal experimental model.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to analyse qualitatively and quantitatively the newly formed bone after insertion of rhBMP-2 and protein extracted from Hevea brasiliensis (P-1), associated or not with a carrier in critical bone defects created in Wistar rat calvarial bone, using histological and histomorphometrical analyses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-four male Wistar rats were used, divided into two groups, according to the period of time until the sacrifice (2 and 6 weeks). Each one of these groups was subdivided into six groups with seven animals each, according to the treatments: (1) 5 μg of pure rhBMP-2, (2) 5 μg of rhBMP-2/monoolein gel, (3) pure monoolein gel, (4) 5 μg of pure P-1, (5) 5 μg of P-1/monoolein gel and (6) critical bone defect controls. The animals were euthanised and the calvarial bone tissue removed for histological and histomorphometrical analyses.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION

The results showed an improvement in the bone healing process using the rhBMP-2 protein, associated or not with a material carrier in relation to the other groups, and this process demonstrated to be time dependent.