Objective: This study aimed to analyze in vitro cytotoxicity to cultured 3T3 fibroblasts and in vivo inflammatory reaction in rats by calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)2) solutions compared with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions.
Design: Cultured 3T3 fibroblasts were exposed to different concentrations of (Ca(OCl)2) and NaOCl solutions, and a scratch assay was performed. The viability rate was analyzed with trypan blue assay. Both solutions of 1% and 2.5% concentrations were injected into the subcutaneous tissue of 18 male Wistar rats aged 18 weeks. The inflammatory tissue reaction was evaluated at 2h, 24h, and 14days after the injections. The samples were qualitatively analyzed using a light microscope. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests for in vitro assays and Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post hoc tests for in vivo assays (α=0.05).
Results: In the scratch assay, Ca(OCl)2 showed no significant difference compared with the control group (culture medium) at 24h (p<0.05). Solutions of 0.0075% and 0.005% NaOCl and Ca(OCl)2 concentrations presented similar results compared with those in the positive control group (hydrogen peroxide) (p>0.05) in the trypan blue assay. In the in vivo assay, 1% Ca(OCl)2 group showed a significant decrease in neutrophils at 2h and 24h (p=0.041) and 2h and 14days (p=0.017). There was no statistically significant difference for lymphocyte/plasmocyte and macrophage counts among the different concentration groups.
Conclusions: Ca(OCl)2 showed favorable results of viability and induced a low-level inflammatory response. Ca(OCl)2 presented acceptable cytotoxicity and biocompatibility as an irrigant solution.
Keywords: Biocompatibility; Calcium hypochlorite; Cytotoxicity; Endodontics; Scratch assay.
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