title: Effects of Rat Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Demineralized Bone Matrix on Cranial Bone Healing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies in tissue engineering about mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide promising results for bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rat bone marrow-derived MSCs (rMSCs) alone and when combined with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on critical-sized cranial defects of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten rats were used to obtain allogeneic rMSCs. Forty rats were separated equally into 4 groups. A full-thickness circular bone defect was created in the frontal bone of the rats. Group 1 was an operative control group. In group 2 DBM, in group 3 rMSCs, and in group 4 DBM combined with rMSCs were applied into the defects. Bone regeneration was evaluated by computed tomographic analysis and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In radiological evaluation, the percentage of area healed in group 3 at the 12th week was statistically significantly greater than in group 1. In group 3 and group 4, distributed healing patterns were observed more than in group 2 and in group 1. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed that group 4 had the best osteoinductive potential. Osteoinductive potential of group 3 was similar to group 2 and was better than group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allogeneic rMSC applications have created a statistically significant radiologic reduction of the bone defect areas at the end of the 12 weeks. The MSC applications have also increased the bone density and changed the healing patterns. Combined use of the DBM and rMSCs has created more osteoinductive responses. This combination can provide better results in craniofacial bone reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Plastic Surgery, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara; †Department of Plastic Surgery, American Hospital, Istanbul; and Departments of ‡Hematology, §Histology and Embryology, and ∥Radiology, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sebahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kandal
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Özmen
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uygur
authors.forename: Munci
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yagci
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kayhan
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elmas
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araç
authors.forename: Cemalettin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Çelebi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome