Effects of nicotine on guided bone augmentation in rat calvarium

Abstract

A limited number of experimental animal studies and in vitro studies have confirmed that nicotine impairs bone healing, diminishes osteoblast function, causes autogenous bone graft morbidity, and decreases graft biomechanical properties. The aim of this study was the histomrphometric assessment of the effect of nicotine on guided bone augmentation in a rat model. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a nicotine group and a control group. All animals received either nicotine (3mg/kg) or saline 4weeks before the surgical procedure and continued to receive nicotine or saline from surgery until death at 12weeks. Two plastic caps were placed in the exposed calvaria of rats. Images of bone augmentation within the plastic caps were then taken using microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT). Histological sections were cut along the same plane as that used for micro-CT images. Bone augmentation beyond the skeletal envelope occurred in both the nicotine and control groups. However, the nicotine group showed significantly smaller increases in bone volume and bone height than the controls. Nicotine jeopardized, but did not prevent, the process of guided bone augmentation in a rat model.