Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between immunolocalization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and newly-formed bone tissue in the space created by GBR.
Nine Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. After exposure of the tibia, a defect was developed in the cortical bone. An e-PTFE membrane was cut to the appropriate size and then applied to the defect. Control defects were not covered with membranes on the left side. The animals were sacrificed at 6, 8, and 10 days after the exposure and tibiae were removed and fixed in 20% formalin. Then they were demineralized with 10% EDTA before being embedded in paraffin. Serial sections were cut and stained with HE and immuno-histochemically stained using monoclonal antibody of PCNA. For morphometric analysis, the occupation ratio of newly-forrned bone in the defects was evaluated by measuring the area occupied by newly-formed bone tissue. The PCNA positive score was made by calculating the number of positive cells per 1 mm2. The bone occupation rate of both groups increased up to 10 days, but the experimental group had a significantly higher rate than the control group in each time period. The PCNA positive score decreased with time in both groups but there were no significant differences between the groups. These results suggested that the GBR method promotes the proliferation of cells related to wound healing with new bone by means of the barrier membrane.
