Stimulation of bone formation by dietary boron in an orthopedically expanded suture in rabbits

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of dietary boron on bone regeneration in rabbits in responseto expansion of the midpalatal suture during different retention periods.Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight 12-week-old New Zealand white male rabbits were separatedinto four equal groups: group 1 (B+10) and group 2 (B+10) had retention periods of 10days with or without boron intake, respectively. Group 3 (B+20, with boron) and group 4 (B+20,without boron) were retained for 20 days. All groups had a 5-day expansion period. For both B+groups, boron was prepared in distilled water and given to the rabbits during their (1) nurseryphase (40 days), (2) expansion phase, and (3) retention period at a dosage of 3 mg/kg daily byoral gavage. Bone regeneration in the midpalatal suture was evaluated by a bone histomorphometricmethod, and the mineralized area (Md.Ar), fibrosis area (Fb.Ar), mineralized area/fibrosisarea (Md.Ar/Fb.Ar), bone area (B.Ar) and osteoblast number (N.Ob) parameters were evaluated.Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences between groups for all investigatedmeasurements. Md.Ar (P < .001), B.Ar (P < .01), and N.Ob (P < .01)parameters were increased and Fb.Ar (P < .01) was decreased in groups B+10 and B+20. Nosignificant differences were observed during an additional 10-day retention period in all groups(P < .05).Conclusions: Boron has a positive effect on the early phase of bone regeneration of the midpalatalsuture in response to expansion and may be beneficial in routine maxillary expansionprocedures. (Angle Orthod. 2009;79:984-990. © 2009 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc.