Evaluation of the effect of local and systemic erythropoietin administration on alveolar bone healing after tooth extraction in rats

The aim of this experimental study is to examine the effect of local and systemic erythropoietin administration on alveolar bone healing after tooth extraction in rats. In the current study, thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups. The day the experimental animals were received was accepted as the first day of the study (day 1). On day 1, the left maxillary first molar of the rats in all study groups was extracted. After tooth extraction, an intraperitoneal (IP) saline solution (SS) (0.1 mg/ml) injection was made to the rats in Group 1. A single dose of 450 IU/kg and 1350 IU/kg erythropoietin (EPO) (BINOCRIT 4000 IU/0.4 ml, Sandoz, Austria) was injected subcutaneously (SC) into the rats in Group 2, and Group 3 respectively. While Geletamp® (Roeko Geletamp, Coltene/Whaledent GmbH, Germany) was placed alone in the extraction sockets of the rats in Group 4, Geletamp® (Roeko Geletamp, Coltene/Whaledent GmbH, Germany) was locally placed together with EPO (20 IU/kg) into the extraction sockets of the rats in Group 5. At the end of the study period, which is the 8th day, 2.5 ml of blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of all study animals before sacrification. A hemogram test was performed on each of the blood samples. All study animals were sacrificed on the same day by the decapitation method. Samples taken from all rats were evaluated histopathologically in terms of inflammation, fibrosis, and foreign body reaction. The new bone formation in the extraction socket was evaluated histomorphometrically. White blood cell (WBC), platelet (PLT), hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (HCT) mean values were evaluated hematologically. When all study groups were evaluated histopathologically in terms of inflammation, fibrosis and foreign body reaction; no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in all parameters (p>0.05). When the new bone formation was evaluated histomorphometrically, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean values of the amount of new bone formation according to the groups (p<0.05). In the pairwise comparisons between the groups, a statistically significant difference was found between Group 3, Group 5 and Group 1 (p<0.05). When compared with the control group , the group which was administered locally with EPO had the least amount of new bone formation. When the mean values of white blood cells and platelets were evaluated, no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05). When the mean hemoglobin and hematocrit values were evaluated, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the pairwise comparisons of Group 2 and Group 4 (p<0.05). In this experimental study model, it was concluded that high-dose systemically administered erythropoietin after tooth extraction had a positive and significant effect on bone healing and did not increase the hematocrit value. In conclusion, it can be said that erythropoietin has a positive effect on bone healing.