Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of human umbilical cord mesenchymal
stem-cell (hUCMSC) therapy in increasing osteoporotic mandibular bone density in a
rat model by determining changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin, type
1 collagen, and trabecular bone area after treatment.
Materials and Methods This research adopted an experimental posttest-only control group design. Thirty
female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups, namely, a control group
with rats postsham surgery (T1), osteoporotic model postovariectomy rats (T2), postovariectomy
rats 4 weeks after gelatin injection (T3), postovariectomy rats 8 weeks after gelatin
injection (T4), postovariectomy rats 4 weeks after hUCMSC injection (T5), and postovariectomy
rats 8 weeks after hUCMSC injection (T6). The rats were all sacrificed for histological
and immunohistochemical examinations of ALP, osteocalcin, type 1 collagen, and trabecular
bone area.
Results Increased expression of ALP, type 1 collagen, and osteocalcin, as well as increased
trabecular bone area, was observed in the treatment groups compared with that in the
osteoporotic groups.
Conclusion hUCMSCs produce significant osteogenic effects and increase osteoporotic mandibular
bone density in the animal model. Increases in bone density are demonstrated by the
higher levels of ALP, osteocalcin, and type 1 collagen, as well as increases in the
trabecular bone area.
Keywords
human - mandibular - osteoporosis
