A rabbit model for experimental alveolar cleft grafting

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to develop an animal model for creating alveolar cleft defects with properly simulated clinical defect environment for tissue-engineered bone-substitute materials testing without compromising the health of the animal. Cleft creation surgery was aimed at creating a complete alveolar cleft with a wide bone defect with an epithelial lining (oral mucosa) overlying the cleft defect.MethodsA postmortem skull of a New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit skull (Oryctolagus cuniculus) underwent an osteological and imaging survey. A pilot postmortem surgery was conducted to confirm the feasability of a surgical procedure and the defect was also radiologically confirmed and illustrated with micro-computed tomography. Then, a surgical in vivo model was tested and evaluated in 16 (n = 16) 8-week-old NZW rabbits to create in vivo alveolar cleft creation surgery.ResultsClinical examination and imaging analysis 8 weeks after cleft creation surgery revealed the establishment of a wide skeletal defect extending to the nasal mucosa simulating alveolar clefts in all of the rabbits.ConclusionsOur surgical technique was successful in creating a sizable and predictable model for bone grafting material testing. The model allows for simulating the cleft site environment and can be used to evaluate various bone grafting materials in regard to efficacy of osteogenesis and healing potential without compromising the health of the animal.

Novel standardized massive bone defect model in rats employing an internal eight‐hole stainless steel plate for bone tissue engineering

“…However, mechanistic studies, inadequate sample sizes, and nursing issues mean this model is not suitable for the study of bone regeneration on load‐bearing bone. Compared with large animals, rat model offers the advantages of low cost, relatively simple nursing care, easily obtainable large sample sizes, and suitability for mechanistic studies due to the wide availability of universal antibodies and probes (Kamal et al, ).…”

Bone regeneration using composite non-demineralized xenogenic dentin with beta-tricalcium phosphate in experimental alveolar cleft repair in a rabbit model

“…A New Zealand White rabbit model for alveolar cleft testing was previously described by the authors in detail (Fig. 1 ) [ 50 ]. The experimental procedure was conducted at the Animal Research Centre, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University.…”

“…The rabbits were sedated with Xylazine HCl 5 mg/kg by intramuscular injection 30 min prior to operation and subsequently anesthetized with 35 mg/kg of ketamine HCl by intravenous injection. To ascertain the highest standard of animal care, a veterinarian was administering the sedation, anesthesia, and care-taking of the animals according to previously used methodology [ 21 , 25 , 50 ]. Throughout the duration of the study, rabbits were kept in separate cags and fed rabbit pellets and water mixture, and were cared of accordingly and observed by veterinarian until the completion of the study.…”

“…The surgery was conducted under sterile conditions with the rabbits in a supine position. A buccal gingival flap was raised subperiosteally to expose the periodontal attachment of the central incisor tooth and the inferior nasal aperture as previously described in our model [ 50 ]. Osteotomy was performed along the lateral curvature of the left central incisor using a rotary instrument to expose the root of the central incisor, then tooth was gently luxated laterally and extracted using extraction forceps.…”

“…In a recent paper, an in vivo rabbit model with surgically created alveolar clefts for the clinical testing was presented [ 45 ]. The advantage with this model is that the cleft is kept open during the healing to avoid rapid bone generation and filling of the defect, enabling conditions similar to clefts seen in clinical practice [ 50 ].…”