SYNOPSIS
Introduction: Efficiency of micro-graft suspension from small amount of autologous tissues in skin and periodontal tissue regenerations has been reported. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of combination of collagen membrane and micro-suspension of palatal mucosa on bone regeneration.
Materials and Methods: Slc: Wistar/ST male rats, 10 weeks old, were used. The palatal mucosa (2 mm × 3 mm) was harvested and pulverized with a tissue grinder (Rigenera^®) to prepare micro-graft suspension. Circular bone defects (5-mm diameter) were surgically made in the parietal bone. Circular collagen membranes (BIOMEND^®), immersed in the micro-graft suspension, or in physiological saline (control group) were transplanted to bone defects (5-mm diameter) in the rat parietal bone. At 1 week (n = 5), 4 weeks (n = 5), and 8 weeks (n = 8) after transplantation, total bone mass was measured using micro-CT imaging, and demineralized tissue sections were histologically evaluated.
Results: At 1 week, the bone volume in the defect of the experimental group (3.53 ± 2.11 mm³)�@was statistically higher than the one of the experimental group (0.96 ± 0.18 mm³), P < 0.05. There were no statistical differences of bone volume at 4 or 8 weeks. At 1 week, new bone formation was histologically evident in the experimental group whereas it was not observed in the control group. At 4 and 8 weeks there was no histological difference between two groups.
Discussion and Conclusion: The present results indicate that the collagen membrane immersed in the micro-graft suspension of palatal mucosa accelerated new bone formation in early healing period.

Key words: bone regeneration, collagen membrane, dental implant, micro-graft suspension, palatal mucosa