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.
© 2012 The Gerodontology Society and John Wiley & Sons A/S.