Objectives: this study was to assess the effect of adipose derived stem cells on bone regeneration of mandibular defects of rabbits.
Material and methods: Twenty four adult male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into two groups. Group A (control group) in which surgically created critical size mandibular defects were created and left to heal without grafting. Group B (test/stem group) from which adipose tissue was withdrawn and stem cells were processed and then seeded on the gel-foam scaffold to be grafted in the surgically created critical size mandibular defects. The treatment outcome was evaluated at 2, 4, 8 weeks postoperatively both radiographically and histologically. Mineralization ratio was statistically analyzed.
Results: histologic and radiographic evaluation revealed significant (p ≤0.05) enhancement of bone regeneration at test group (A) as compared to control group (B).
Conclusion: the use Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells proved to be effective for enhancing bone regeneration in mandibular critical-size bone defects.