ARS | Publication request: A HISTOMORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF ALVEOLAR BONE HEALING IN RATS FED A BORON-DEFICIENT DIET

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: November 10, 2005
Publication Date: March 6, 2006
Publisher's URL: http://www.fasebj.org
Citation: Gorustovich, A.A., Steimetz, T., Nielsen, F.H., Guglielmotti, M.B. 2006. A histomorphometric study of alveolar bone healing in rats fed a boron-deficient diet [abstract]. FASEB J. 20(4):A24.

Technical Abstract: Bone healing after tooth extraction in rats is a suitable experimental model to study bone formation. Thus, we preformed a study to determine the effects of boron deficiency on bone healing by using this model. Weanling Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control (G1; 3 mg B/kg diet), and boron-deficient (G2; 0.07 mg/kg diet). At t0 the first molar was extracted under anesthesia. The animals in both groups were killed in groups of 10 at 7 and 14 days post-surgery. The guidelines of the NIH for the care and use of laboratory animals were observed. The mandibles were resected, fixed, decalcified and embedded in paraffin. Bucco-lingually oriented sections were obtained at the level of the mesial alveolus and stained with H-E. Total alveolar volume (TV) and bone volume (TBV/TV) in the apical third of the alveolus were determined. Percentages of osteoblast surface (ObS), eroded surface (ES), and quiescent surface (GS) were determined. No statistical differences in food intake and body weight were observed. Histomorphometric evaluation found G2 rats had 36% and 63% reductions in TBV/TV at 7 and 14 days, respectively. When compared to G1 rats, G2 rats had significant reductions (57% and 87%) in ObS concomitantly with increases (120% and 126%) in QS at 7 and 14 days, respectively. The findings show that boron deficiency results in altered bone healing because of a marked reduction in osteogenesis. Grants: CONICET PIP 6042; Extramural Agreement USDA, ARS 58-5450-4N-F038.