Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Osteocalcin Expression with Application of LIPUS During Relapse Phase of Orthodontic Therapy

Abstract

There are many biomarkers (proteins) representing the biological modifications during bone resorption and formation phenomena, one of the most important proteins is the osteocalcin ,which is the most abundant non collagenous matrix protein in bone and dentine, that used as a clinical marker for bone turnover. Osteocalcin is expressed solely by highly differentiated osteoblasts and is incorporated into the bony matrix, and thought to play a role in the body's metabolic regulation and is pro-osteoblastic, or bone-building, by nature.Low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a medical technology used to enhance bone healing, bone growth, bone formation and maturation in different medical situations.Material and method: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the LIPUS application on the osteocalcin expression and its role in accelerating the bone formation during relapse phase of orthodontic tooth movement. Fourteen male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: control and experimental (orthodontically treated(alone in the former) plus LIPUS therapy during relapse phase in the latter) group. Results: The result almost showed strong immunoreaction for osteocalcin expressed by dental cells and their progenitors in experimental group in the coronal, middle, and apical levels which play essential role in enhancing and accelerating the bone formation and regeneration via increasing the osteogenic cells activity that illustrates a benefit in orthodontic treatment.