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Establishment of a C57BL/6 Mandibular Critical-Size Bone Defect Model
1Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
A 2.3-mm mandibular defect in C57BL/6 mice results in bone nonunion, indicating a critical size defect. Smaller defects showed significant bone healing, highlighting the defect size
Area of Science:
- Surgical research
- Orthopedic research
- Mouse models in research
Background:
- Critical-sized defects are essential for studying bone regeneration.
- Understanding mandibular defect healing in mice is crucial for translational research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the critical size of mandibular bone defects in C57BL/6 mice.
- To evaluate bone healing in response to different defect sizes.
Main Methods:
- Surgical creation of 1.0-mm, 1.6-mm, and 2.3-mm mandibular defects in 24 male C57BL/6 mice.
- Assessment of bone healing via micro-computed tomography and histomorphology after 8 weeks.
Main Results:
- Osseous nonunion occurred in 0/8 (1.0-mm), 6/8 (1.6-mm), and 8/8 (2.3-mm) defects.
- Significant differences in bone mineral density and bone volume to total volume ratio were observed.
- New bone fill percentages were 91.85% (1.0-mm), 59.84% (1.6-mm), and 15.36% (2.3-mm).
Conclusions:
- A 2.3-mm mandibular defect in C57BL/6 mice represents a critical size defect leading to nonunion.
- Defect size significantly impacts mandibular bone healing and regeneration.
- This model is suitable for studying interventions aimed at promoting bone healing in critical-sized defects.
