Bioactive glasses represent an interesting class of bone substitute's biomaterials. The present study investigated the repair of bone defects filled with a novel bioactive vitroceramic (Biosilicate(®)), alone or in association with particulate autogenous bone grafts in calvaria defects of rabbits. After 7, 14, and 30 days the specimens were retrieved for histological, histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis. Satisfactory bone formation was observed in all groups, and direct bone-biomaterial surface was noted. Histomorphometric assessment did not show statistically significant differences in bone formation among the groups and periods, except for BG group at day 14. Immunoexpression of Runx-2 was similar among the groups containing the graft and the biomaterial, being more intense than in control group. Similar result was observed for VEGF expression, especially in the last experimental period. These results revealed that Biosilicate(®) presented a favorable behavior, comparable to autogenous bone graft.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing process of intramembranous (IM) and endochondral (EC) bone grafts under low‐level laser therapy (LLLT). Male rabbits underwent onlay autogenous bone grafts (1 cm in diameter) retrieved from the calvaria and iliac crest and fixed on parietal bones, divided into four groups: Calvaria (C), Iliac (I), Calvaria + LLLT (C+L), and Iliac + LLLT (I+L). Animals from C+L and I+L Groups had their grafts exposed to LLLT (AlGaAs–808 nm, CW, 30 mW, 0.028 cm2 average laser beam area), 15 s irradiation time (16 J/cm2 per point–total of 64 J/cm2 per session). After 7, 14, 30, and 60 days, grafts were retrieved and resorption pattern analyzed by means of morphometry and TRAP‐positive osteoclasts detection. Differences in the resorption levels of iliac grafts were observed, presenting 40% in I group against 8% in I+L grafts at the 14th day of evaluation (P < 0.05). After 30 days, resorption was maintained at 41% in I group, whereas I+L presented 15% in the same period (P = 0.0591). No significant differences were noted in the rates of calvaria grafts resorption in all periods. A significant higher number of osteoclasts on the grafts' surface was observed in C+L Group at day 30, in comparison with C group. In I+L Group, prevalence of osteoclasts was marked at day 7 (P < 0.05) in comparison to I Group. In general, it was concluded that biomodulative effects of LLLT did not significantly affect healing and resorption processes of autogenous bone grafts from EC and IM origins. Microsc. Res. Tech. 75:1237–1244, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.