Prostaglandin E2 enhances alveolar bone formation in the rat mandible.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induces bone formation in stress-bearing bones. The mandible, a stress-bearing bone, is loaded daily during mastication. The aim of this study was to determine if PGE2 delivered locally to the mandible over 20 days enhances alveolar bone deposition. In 18 Lewis rats, controlled-release pellets containing PGE2 were implanted on the buccal aspect on the left-hand side of the mandible, mesial to the root of the first molar. Controlled-release pellets locally delivered 0.1, 0.05, or 0.025 mg/day of PGE2. The right side of the mandible was used as a matched control for each animal. Six sham-treated animals were implanted with a placebo pellet. On days 7 and 19, animals were injected with the bone markers tetracycline and calcein, respectively. On day 21, animals were sacrificed and undecalcified tissues obtained for morphometrical analysis. Morphometrical measurements were analyzed by paired t test to determine differences between the matched samples and one-way ANOVA to compare the different treatment groups. A significant increase in alveolar bone area was observed in mandibles treated with 0.1 and 0.05 mg/day when compared with matched controls and the placebo group. This was accompanied by a significant increase in alveolar bone height and width. The proportions of double-labeled surface (dLS), the mineral apposition rate (MAR), and bone formation rate (BFR) were significantly increased in mandibles treated with the two higher doses of PGE2. The proportion of resorptive surface (RS) was significantly reduced in these two groups. It is concluded that PGE2 induces alveolar bone formation in the mandible when locally delivered at a dose of 0.1 or 0.05 mg/day for 20 days.