OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) administration on bone formation in response to expansion of the inter-premaxillary suture, in rats, histomorphometrically. METHODS: Thirty 50 - 60 day old Wistar rats were separated into five equal groups (one control and four experimental). All groups were subjected to inter-premaxilla expansion with 50-gram of force. Six control animals received saline solution (Group I) and three experimental groups were treated with a single dose of alpha-tocopherol injected into the inter-premaxillary suture after one day after appliance placement (Group II: 2 mg/kg; Group III: 10 mg/kg; and Group IV: 50 mg/kg). A further group of six animals received three injections of 10 mg/kg alpha-tocopherol, one each on days 3, 6, and 9 (Group V). Bone formation in the suture was evaluated by bone histomorphometry. Kruskal-Wallis rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical evaluation at p<0.05 level. RESULTS: New bone area, bone perimeter, feret's diameter and newly formed bone measurements were significantly higher in the experimental groups than the control (p<0.001). Bone architecture in alpha-tocopherol administrated groups was improved, and bone formation during the expansion period was stimulated significantly, in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The application of alpha-tocopherol during the early stages to orthopedically expanded inter-premaxillary suture areas may stimulate bone formation and shorten the retention period, in rats.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Animals ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retention (Psychology) ; Sodium Chloride ; Sutures ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of direct electrical current stimulation (DECS) on bone regeneration in response to an expansion of the inter-premaxillary suture in the rat. METHODS: Sixteen 50 - 60 days old Wistar male rats were separated into two equal groups (control and experimental). Both groups were subjected to expansion, and 30-gram of force was applied to the maxillary incisors with helical-spring. In the experimental group, two metallic-screws were placed at lateral parts of the maxillary segments. Electrodes were connected to the screws. The device was activated with current adjustment to measure 10 microA continuously and the current was monitored daily during the expansion and early-retention phase. Bone regeneration in the sutural area was histomorphometrically evaluated including new-bone area (micrometer2), bone perimeter (micrometer), feret's diameter (micrometer) and newly formed bone (%) parameters. Kruskal-Wallis rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical evaluation at p < 0.05 level. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significant differences between groups for all investigated histomorphometric parameters. New bone area (p = 0.002), bone perimeter (p = 0.004), feret's diameter (p = 0.002) and newly formed bone percentage (p = 0.002) measurements were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. Bone histomorphometric measurements revealed that bone architecture in the DECS group was improved. CONCLUSIONS: The application of DECS to an orthopedically expanded inter-premaxillary suture area during the early retention phase stimulated the formation of new bone.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Osteogenesis ; Palatal Expansion Technique ; Rats ; Retention (Psychology) ; Sutures