Bone marrow aspirate and platelet-rich plasma combined or not with autogenous bone graft on bone healing: a histomorphometric and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined or not with with autogenous bone (AB) graft on bone healing in surgically created critical-size defects (CSD) in rat calvaria. 96 rats will be divided into 6 groups: C, BMA, BMA/AB, PRP, PRP/AB and AB. A 5 mm diameter CSD will be created in the calvarium of each animal. The animals of each group will receive the following treatments: Group C - the defect will be filled by blood clot only; Group BMA - the defect will be filled with BMA; Group BMA/AB - the defect will be filled with AB graft combined with BMA; Group PRP - the defect will be filled with PRP; Group PRP/AB - the defect will be filled with AB graft combined with PRP; Group AB - the defect will be filled with AB graft. Animals will be euthanized at either 10 or 30 days postoperative. Newly formed bone area (NFBA) will be calculated as a percentage of the total area of the original defect in the histomorphometric analysis. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein 2/4 (BMP-2/4) and osteocalcin (OCN) immunohistochemical staining will be performed and the immunolabeled cells will be either quantified or semi-quantified. Data will be statistically analyzed. (AU)