title: Ovariectomy delays alveolar wound healing after molar extractions in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to investigate the morphological effects of the absence of estrogen on alveolar wound healing of young female rats after tooth extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 4- to 6-week-old female rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operations. Three weeks later, the first mandibular molars were extracted. Subsequently, the animals were killed by cervical dislocation 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, or 28 days after tooth extraction. The mandibles were removed, and serial transversal sections of mesial alveolus of the first mandibular molars were obtained for histometric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OVX sockets showed significant increases in fibroblasts and collagen content 3 and 5 days after the extractions, followed by significant decreases in these parameters in the subsequent periods. In accordance with the decreased collagen content in the latest period of healing, new bone formation was significantly reduced in the OVX animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the initial molecular changes observed in the absence of estrogen lead to delayed alveolar wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michele Conceição
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Karina Gottardello
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Zecchin
authors.forename: Eduardo Bauml
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Campagnoli
authors.forename: Jacks
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jorge
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008963:Molar / Q000601:surgery*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D003094:Collagen