Use of buccal fat pad-derived stem cells cultured on bioceramics for repair of critical-sized mandibular defects in healthy and osteoporotic rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare new bone formation in mandibular symphysis critical-sized bone defects (CSBDs) in healthy and osteoporotic rats filled with bioceramics (BCs) with or without buccal fat pad mesenchymal stem cells (BFPSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to two groups (n-=-16 per group): group 1 healthy and group 2 osteoporotic (with bilateral ovariectomy). The central portion of the rat mandibular symphysis was used as a physiological CSBD. In each group, eight defects were filled with BC (hydroxyapatite 60% and ¿-tricalcium phosphate 40%) alone and eight with BFPSCs cultured on BC. The animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks, and the mandibles were processed for micro-computed tomography to analyze radiological union and bone mineral density (BMD); histological analysis of the bone union; and immunohistochemical analysis, which included immunoreactivity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2). RESULTS: In both groups, CSBDs filled with BC-+-BFPSCs showed greater radiological bone union, BMD and histological bone union, and more VEGF and BMP-2 positivity, compared with CSBDs treated with BC alone at 4 and 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The application of BFPSCs cultured on BCs improves bone regeneration in CSBDs compared with BCs alone in healthy and osteoporotic rats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results may aid bone regeneration of maxillofacial CSBDs of both healthy and osteoporotic patients, but further studies are necessary.