title: Demineralized bone matrix used for direct pulp capping in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the wound healing process following direct pulp capping with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty 8-weeks-old SPF Wistar male rats were divided into two groups: one was the DBM treated group, and the other was the Ca(OH)2 treated group. Pulpotomy was performed on the maxillary first molar of one side of each rat, and the another side was left as the blank control. Rats were sacrificed after each observation period (1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days) and specimen slices were made. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining was used for observing the changes of pulp tissue, and immunohistochemical staining was used for observing the expression of reparative dentinogenesis-related factors runt transcription factor 2 (Runx2), type I collagen (COL I), osteocalcin (OCN) and dentin sialoprotein (DSP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI) and pulp tissue disorganization (PTD) could be observed in both the DBM and Ca(OH)2 groups at all observation periods. The DBM group showed slighter ICI on 1 and 28 days and milder PTD on 28 days, with a significant difference (P<0.05). Reparative dentin formation (RDF) could initially be observed on 14 days postoperatively, and the DBM group showed more regular and thinner RDF with significant differences on 14 and 28 days compared with the Ca(OH)2 group (P<0.05). In both groups, the expression of Runx2, COL I, DSP and OCN were positive. Generally, the expression of these four factors in the DBM group was stronger than the Ca(OH)2 group on the same observation periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBM had the ability of inducing odontoblast differentiation and promoting dentinogenesis. DBM could initiate physiologic wound healing in pulp and had the ability to promote reparative dentin formation. Consequently, DBM may be an acceptable alternative for direct pulp capping.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases of Jiangsu Province and Stomatological School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Department of pediatric and preventive dentistry, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases of Jiangsu Province and Stomatological School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Department of pediatric and preventive dentistry, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Junlan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanchang University, The Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Xuefang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases of Jiangsu Province and Stomatological School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Department of pediatric and preventive dentistry, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yanjing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases of Jiangsu Province and Stomatological School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Department of pediatric and preventive dentistry, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002126:Calcium Hydroxide