Objective: To evaluate the effect of autogenous periodontal ligament cell (PDL) transplantation in periodontal tissue regeneration.
Methods: PDL cells derived from the same dog were cultured with alpha-MEM. 1 x 10(5) cells of first passage were allowed to attach to the collagen membrane for 24 hours. The membrane-cells were transplanted into periodontal defect in the same dog. Then the defects were covered with e-PTFE membranes. The defects covered only with e-PTFE were the controls. Eighteen teeth of 6 dogs for each group were included. The dogs were sacrificed after 6 weeks.
Results: The results showed that new bone formation (4.00 +/- 0.13) mm in test group was significantly higher than that of in control group (3.09 +/- 0.28) mm, P < 0.05. The new cementum formation in test group was better than control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results suggested that PDL cell transplantation with guided tissue regeneration technique could enhance periodontal tissue regeneration in dogs.