Histological Study of the Effect of Bioactive Glass on Tibial Bone Repair in Rats

Abstract

Abstract:The main goal of this study was to histologically evaluate the healing of surgically created defects on the tibiae of adult rats after implantation of bioactive glass. Twenty adult Wistar rats (body weight of 300g) were divided into two groups: bioglass treated group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Unicortical bone defects with 3-mm diameter were performed in both tibiae of the animals and filled with bioglass particles. The rats were then sacrificed at 14, 30 , 60 and 90 days, and the tissues were prepared for histological processing, sectioning, and staining with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as Mallory trichrome, and analyzed under light microscope. Within 7-14 days, both groups presented connective tissue septa with new bone formation, more intense in bioglass treated group. In the subsequent periods (30, 60 and 90 days), these groups presented more mature bone tissue around the glass particles. Bone trabeculae formed in all experimental periods were juxtaposed to the glass particles. It can be concluded that bioglass materials promoted bone formation over the entire extension of the defect, independently of the size of the granules, thus confirming their biological osteoconductive property.