The Effects of Photobiomodulation on Bone Defect Repairing in a Diabetic Rat Model

The purpose of this study is to examine the prospective therapeutic effects of photobiomodulation on the healing of bone defects in diabetic mellitus (DM) using rat models to provide basic knowledge of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) during bone defect repair. For in vitro study, an Alizzarin red stain assay was used to evaluate the effect of PBMT on osteogenic differentiation. For in vivo study, micro-computed tomography (microCT) scan, H&E and IHC stain analysis were used to investigate the effect of PBMT on the healing of the experimental calvarial defect (3 mm in diameter) of a diabetic rat model. For in vitro study, the high glucose groups showed lower osteogenic differentiation in both irradiated and non-irradiated with PBMT when compared to the control groups. With the PBMT, all groups (control, osmotic control and high glucose) showed higher osteogenic differentiation when compared to the non-irradiated groups. For in vivo study, the hyperglycemic group showed significantly lower bone regeneration when compared to the control group. With the PBMT, the volume of bone regeneration was increasing and back to the similar level of the control group. The treatment of PBMT in 660 nm could improve the bone defect healing on a diabetic rat calvarial defect model.