• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.195-210
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• 2006

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of combination of rhBMP-4 and chitosan, which have osteoinductive capacity, on the regeneration of bone defects in dogs. Three beagle dogs aged over one and half years and weighed about 15Kg were used in this study. Three round defects were made by trephine bur in each side of mandibles. Each defect was filled with collagen, chitosan, rhBMP-4/chitosan. The dogs were sacrificed at 1, 3 or 8 weeks postsurgery and the results were evaluated histologically. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The sign of new bone formation, rearrangement of osteoblasts was revealed adjacent of preexisted bone or around graft materials such as chitosan. 2. The descending order of groups in bone regeneration speed was the rhBMP-4/chitosan group, chitosan group, collagen group. In the combination group, new bone was regenerated more and in better quality than others. 3. The regeneration of bone was observed in the rhBMP-4/chitosan group in 3 weeks after surgery. In 8 weeks after surgery, bone regeneration was observed in all three groups, and new bone at 8th week was denser in the chitosan and rhBMP-4/chitosan group than collagen group. In conclusion, rhBMP-4 and chitosan can be applied in the bone regeneration procedures usefully. It is considered that chitosan can be a splint for the maintenance of the defect form and produce much better effect when used with good grafting material or bone morphogenetic protein.