Radiographic Evaluation of the Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Regeneration of Calvarial Bone Defects in Rats

Abstract

Aim: The present study was aimed to evaluate radiographically the effect of orally administered vitamin D3 on guided bone regeneration in calvarial critical size defects (CSD) in rats. Methods: Two calvarial CSD were created in 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats. One of the defects was left empty (E defect), while the other one was treated with deproteinized bovine bone graft and collagen-based resorbable membrane (GM-filled defect). Following surgical intervention, rats were randomly assigned into two groups; the control group was administered distilled water, and the test group was treated with 2 µg /kg vitamin D3 by gavage once a day for 8 weeks. Radiological images were obtained from rats on 4th and 8th weeks. The area fraction of newly formed osteoid was determined using Image Fiji Analysis Software. Results: The percentages of area fraction in the GM-filled defects were statistically higher than the E defects in both study groups at 4th and 8th weeks (p