Effects of alloplastic graft material combined with a topical ozone application on calvarial bone defects in rats

Abstract

Background:The present study presents the evaluation of the damage in the bone tissue resulting from a calvarial defect in rats and the efficiency of exposure to an ozone application with an alloplastic bone graft on the calvarial bone damage. Materials and methods:Wistar male rats (n = 56) were divided into four groups: a control group (n = 14), defect and ozone group (n = 14), defect and graft group (n = 14), and defect, graft, and ozone group (n = 14). Under anaesthesia, a circular full-thickness bone defect was created in all groups, and the experimental groups were further divided into two sub-groups, with seven rats in each group sacrificed at the end of the 4 th and 8 th weeks. Bone samples were dissected, fixed in 10% formalin solution, and decalcified with 5% ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). After the routine follow-up on tissues, immunostaining of osteopontin and osteonectin antibodies was applied to sections and observed under a light microscope. Results:The control group exhibited osteopontin and osteonectin expression in fibroblasts and inflammatory cells at the end of the 4 th week with an acceleration at the 8 th week. Ozone administration elucidated new trabecular bone formation by increasing osteoblastic activity.Lastly, our observations underscore that a combination of allograft and ozone application increased the osteoblast, osteocyte, and bone matrix development at the 4 th and 8 th weeks. Conclusions:Exposure to an ozone application with an alloplastic bone graft on calvarial bone damage may induce osteoblastic activity, matrix development, mature bone cell formation, and new bone formation in rats.