Guided bone regeneration using rhGDF‐5‐ and rhBMP‐2‐coated natural bone mineral in rat calvarial defects

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of either recombinant human growth and differentiation factor 5 (rhGDF-5)- or recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2)-coated natural bone mineral (NBM) on guided bone regeneration in a rat calvarial defect model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two monocortical critical-size calvarial defects (diameter 6 mm, depth 1.5 mm) were prepared in a total of 90 rats each (n=180 defects) and randomly allocated to the following groups: (1) NBM+collagen membrane (BG), (2) rhBMP-2+NBM+BG, (3) rhGDF-5+NBM+BG, (4) autogenous bone (AB)+BG, or (5) untreated control (C). At 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks, dissected blocks were processed for histological [e.g. area (mm(2)) of mineralized tissue (MT)] and immunohistochemical (osteocalcin - OC, angiogenesis - TG) analysis. RESULTS: At 2 weeks, both coated NBM groups exhibited the formation of a thin hard tissue bridge underneath the BG. All test groups revealed significantly higher mean MT values than the C group at 24 weeks. rhBMP-2+NBM+BG-treated defects revealed significantly higher mean MT values in comparison with the AB+BG (8 and 24 weeks), NBM+BG (2 and 4 weeks), and rhGDF-5+NBM+BG (2, 16, and 24 weeks) groups, respectively. Immunoreactions to either OC or TG were comparable in all test groups. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that (i) all treatment procedures investigated supported bone regeneration at 24 weeks and (ii) rhBMP-2 might have the potential to improve the outcome of healing, particularly during the early stages of healing.