Abstract
The present study was performed to apply artificial dermis, and to investigate the epithelial regenerative response of defects in the rat palatal gingiva after implantation of a collagen marix (a composite material of fibrillar atelocollagen and heat denatured atelocollagen). The epithelial regeneration process was observed using immunostaining with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). A collagen matrix was implanted into the defects in the experimental group. The defects in the control group received no implants.
The BrdU labeling cell index in both groups was examined, using statistical methods, at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after the implantation. The following results were obtained. The BrdU labeling cell index was 28.7% in the control group and 16.6% in the experimental group at 1 day after the implantation. The rate of the control group was higher than that of the experimental group, but this difference was not significant. At 3, 5, 7 and 14 days, there were no differences in the BrdU labeling cell index between the experimental and control groups. The above results suggest that this collagen matrix is not an obstructive factor in the wound area, and that this material promotes epithelial regeneration during the process of connective tissue regeneration and the resorption of the collagen matrix.
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