Press Releases

FGF-2 Promotes Periodontal Healing in an Osteoporosis Model Rat

Published on: March 14, 2024

Alexandria, VA, USA – A study investigating the effects of local application of fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) on periodontal healing in osteoporosis model rats was presented at the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 13-16, 2024, in New Orleans, LA, USA. 

The abstract, “FGF-2 Promotes Periodontal Healing in an Osteoporosis Model Rat” was presented during the “Periodontal Treatment Effects and Implant Therapy” Poster Session that took place on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 3:45 p.m. Central Standard Time (UTC-6). 

The study, by Shinta Mori of Tokyo Dental College, Japan, assigned Wistar rats to an ovariectomy (OVX) -induced osteoporosis group or control group. The control group underwent a sham operation. At 8 weeks post-OVX, trabecular bone structure of the femur was analyzed to confirm the osteoporotic condition. Subsequently, standardized periodontal defects were surgically created in maxilla. The defects in each group received FGF-2 or left untreated. At 2 weeks post-periodontal surgery, we evaluated periodontal healing through histological observations (H-E staining) and micro-CT analysis.

 By analyzing of the trabecular bone structure in the femur, we confirmed the osteoporotic condition. In histological analysis of periodontal healing at two weeks post-surgery, FGF-2-treated defects showed a greater level of newly formed bone compared with non-treated defects, in both OVX and control groups. At two weeks, bone volume fraction of FGF-2-treated defects (OVX ; 16.3 ± 5.0%, control ; 20.5 ± 4.2%) was significantly greater than non-treated defects (10.2 ± 3.6%, 13.7 ± 5.1%) (p < 0.001). Similarly, trabecular number of FGF-2 treated defects (OVX ; 2.0 ± 0.4 /mm, control ; 2.2 ± 0.2 /mm) was significantly greater than non-treated defects (1.4 ± 0.4 /mm, 1.7 ± 0.5 /mm) (p < 0.01).

 The application of FGF-2 resulted in increased bone volume fraction, trabecular number, and formation of newly formed bone in the defects of OVX and control groups at 2 weeks. Within the limitation of short-term observation, FGF-2 seems to enhance periodontal healing, even under osteoporotic condition. 

About IADR

 The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. IADR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. Learn more at  www.iadr.org

About AADOCR

 The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. AADOCR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. AADOCR is the largest division of IADR. Learn more at www.aadocr.org.