Histological comparison of platelet-rich plasma and enamel matrix derivative on periodontal regeneration in rats

Abstract

We compared the histological effectiveness of treatment by platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and enamel matrix derivative (EMD) on rat periodontal defects. Palatal dehiscence defects were surgically created on the bilateral maxillary first molars in fifty rats. PRP was derived from allogenic blood and Emdogain^<[○!R]>-gel was used as EMD. Atelocollagen was used as a carrier for both. Both sides of the periodontal defects were filled with atelocollagen containing PRP (PRP group) or with atelocollagen containing EMD (EMD group). Moreover, both sides of the periodontal defects were filled only with atelocollagen in the atelocollagen control (AC) group. Five rats in each group were euthanized 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Histological analysis and histomorphometric measurements were then performed. Two and eight weeks after surgery, the rate of bone regeneration was greatest in the PRP group, and there were statistically significant differences between the PRP and EMD groups. Four and eight weeks after surgery, the rate of new cementum formation was largest in the EMD group, and there were statistically significant differences between the PRP and EMD groups. The results suggest that implanting PRP in periodontal defects significantly promotes bone regeneration. However the effect of PRP on the formation of new cementum was inferior to that of EMD.