Simvastatin and biphasic calcium phosphate affects bone formation in critical-sized rat calvarial defects.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of locally applied simvastatin plus biphasic calcium phosphate (BoneCeramic(r)) or collagen sponge on bone formation in critical-sized bone defects.


METHODS
Thirty defects of 5mm in diameter were created bilaterally with a trephine bur in the calvariae of fifteen Wistar rats. The defects were divided into five groups: group 1 - control, no treatment; group 2 (BoneCeramic(r)); group 3 (BoneCeramic(r) + 0.1mg simvastatin); group 4 (collagen sponge); and group 5 (collagen sponge + 0.1mg simvastatin). After eight weeks the animals were euthanized and their calvariae were histologically processed. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were subjected to histological and histomorphometrical analyses. The area of newly formed bone was calculated and compared between groups.


RESULTS
The greater amount of a bone-like tissue was formed around the carrier in group 3 (BoneCeramic(r) + 0.1mg simvastatin) followed by group 2 (BoneCeramic(r)), and almost no bone was formed in the other groups. Group 3 was significantly different compared to group 2, and both groups were significantly different compared to the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Simvastatin combined with BoneCeramic(r) induced significantly greater amounts of newly formed bone and has great potential for the healing of bone defects.
Fellow PhD degree, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasilia (UnB), Brasília-DF, Brazil. Technical procedures, acquisition and interpretation of data, manuscript writing., Universidade de Brasília, Universidade de Brasilia, Brasília DF , Brazil.
Washington Macedo de
WM
Santana
Fellow PhD degree, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasilia (UnB), Brasília-DF, Brazil. Technical procedures, acquisition and interpretation of data, manuscript writing., Universidade de Brasília, Universidade de Brasilia, Brasília DF , Brazil.
Dircilei Nascimento de
DN
Sousa
PhD, Full Professor, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, UnB, Brasília-DF, Brazil. Statistical analysis, English language, critical revision., Universidade de Brasília, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UnB, Brasília DF , Brazil.
Vania Maria
VM
Ferreira
PhD, Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences, Department of Dentistry, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, UnB, Brasília-DF, Brazil. Conception and design of the study, manuscript writing., Universidade de Brasília, Department of Dentistry, UnB, Brasília DF , Brazil.
Wagner Rodrigues
WR
Duarte
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012886:Skull / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; C558777:BoneCeramic; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; C074950:hydroxyapatite-beta tricalcium phosphate; D003094:Collagen; D019821:Simvastatin