title: Reliable critical sized defect rodent model for cleft palate research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suitable animal models are necessary to test the efficacy of new bone grafting therapies in cleft palate surgery. Rodent models of cleft palate are available but have limitations. This study compared and modified mid-palate cleft (MPC) and alveolar cleft (AC) models to determine the most reliable and reproducible model for bone grafting studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published MPC model (9 × 5 × 3 mm(3)) lacked sufficient information for tested rats. Our initial studies utilizing AC model (7 × 4 × 3 mm(3)) in 8 and 16 weeks old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats revealed injury to adjacent structures. After comparing anteroposterior and transverse maxillary dimensions in 16 weeks old SD and Wistar rats, virtual planning was performed to modify MPC and AC defects dimensions, taking the adjacent structures into consideration. Modified MPC (7 × 2.5 × 1 mm(3)) and AC (5 × 2.5 × 1 mm(3)) defects were employed in 16 weeks old Wistar rats and healing was monitored by micro-computed tomography and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maxillary dimensions in SD and Wistar rats were not significantly different. Preoperative virtual planning enhanced postoperative surgical outcomes. Bone healing occurred at defect margin leaving central bone void confirming the critical size nature of the modified MPC and AC defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presented modifications for MPC and AC models created clinically relevant and reproducible defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Nesrine Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Mostafa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Doschak
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Major
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Electronic address: rtalwar@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Reena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talwar
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008437:Maxilla / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010159:Palate / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods
keywords: Bone grafting; Bone healing; Cleft palate; Critical size defect; Rat model