Abstract :
There is little information concerning the angiogenesis process around different graft materials. This animal study aimed to evaluate the expression of selected angiogenesis markers in extensive bone defects subjected to a concurrent implantation and grafting procedure with bovine bone graft or an alloplastic material, as compared to the autogenous bone. Thirteen dogs were distributed into three groups according to the time of sacrificing (2, 4, and 6 months). Extensive osteotomies were designed in the dogs' sternum, and the implants were placed in the bone defects. Each group of animals contained three subgroups according to the grafting material utilized (autogenous, xenogenous, or synthetic). At the end of the healing periods, the dogs were sacrificed and the osteograft blocks surrounding the implants were resected and submitted to a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to measure the expression of selected angiogenesis genes (VEGF-A, VEGFR, ANG2, TIE1, bFGF, and CD34). The two-way ANOVA revealed no significant interaction between the two factors graft materials and healing intervals (P>0.05). There was no significant difference among the grafting substitutes concerning the expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR, ANG2, TIE1, bFGF, and CD34 (P>0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the expression of angiogenesis genes between the 2-, 4-, and 6-month groups (P>0.05). Concerning the comparable expression of angiogenesis markers around dental implants, both Cerabone and Osteon can be regarded as suitable alternatives to the autogenous bone for filling the bony defects.
