Effects of ipriflavone on bone augmentation within a titanium cap in rabbit calvaria

Ipriflavone (7-isopropoxyisoflavone, IP), a drug used in the treatment of osteoporosis, may promote bone formation during bone remodeling. IP has been shown to accelerate both the activity of, and formation of mineralized nodules by a human osteosarcoma cell line at an early stage. However, the direct effects of IP on bone augmentation have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether IP induces bone augmentation within a titanium cap in rabbit calvaria at an early stage. Five adult male Japanese white rabbits were used. One cap (test site) was packed with IP in a collagen gel, and the other (control site) was packed with the collagen gel alone. After the one- and three-month healing periods, we measured the newly generated tissue and bone within the titanium caps. The amount of newly generated tissue within the titanium caps of the control sites was higher than the tests sites after one month and three months. However, the percentage of newly generated bone/bone marrow in the newly generated tissue at the test sites was higher than for the control sites after one month and three months. These results suggest that IP affects the quality of bone augmentation at an early stage.