Effect of curcumin on new bone formation in mid palatal suture after rapid maxillary expansion in rats

The aim of our study was to histomorphometrically evaluate new bone formation in rats that underwent maxillary sutural expansion with curcumin application. 32 male albino Wistar rats aged 8 weeks were used in our study. The rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups as Group 1 (high dose curcumin), Group 2 (low dose curcumin) and Group 3 (positive control) as 3 experimental groups and Group 4 (negative control) as Group 4. During the expansion period, every day (5 days) and every other day during the retention period, 200 mg/kg of curcumin was given to the first group and 100 mg/kg to the second group via oral gavage. Expansion was applied to the third group and no procedure was applied to the fourth group. Curcumin was supplied by Sigma Aldrich (Germany). A suspension was obtained by dissolving curcumin in a volume of 25 mg/ml with Tween 80 solution. 30 gr force was applied to all groups with the help of helical springs placed on maxillary incisors for 5 days. After expansion, retention was applied for 12 days. Bone regeneration in the suture region was evaluated histomorphometrically. When histological findings were evaluated; there was no difference between the groups in terms of osteoblast, osteoclast, capillary count, new bone formation, inflammatory cell density, Collagen I, osteopontin, osteocalcin and TNF alpha values. Low-dose curcumin group Group1; fibrous callus formation values were significantly higher than Group3 and Group4. In terms of proximal osteotomy junction and distal osteotomy line values, Group4 values were significantly lower than Group1 and Group2. Although cortex remodeling values were higher in Group2 than the other groups, there was no significant difference. According to ELISA test results, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of MDA levels. Group 3 and Group 4 had significantly higher SOD levels than Group 1 and Group 2. The null hypothesis of our study, "Curcumin use in rats has an effect on new bone formation in the maxillary suture as a result of rapid maxillary expansion" was partially rejected.