Evaluation of Mandibular Bone Healing in Wistar Rat: Relevance of Serum Biochemical Markers and Surface Bone Mineral Density

Introduction-Mandibular bone healing is a complex and crucial process in maxillofacial surgery. This study aims to explore the relevance of serum biochemical markers in monitoring mandibular bone healing in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods-An experimental study was carried out in 24 Wistar rats for three months, from February to April 2024, to demonstrate the relevance of serum biochemical markers (alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus) in monitoring mandibular bone healing. Biochemical assays were performed weekly and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were taken every two weeks. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 software, and correlation was assessed using Pearson's coefficient (r). Results-In female rats with dental extraction, alkaline phosphatase showed a strong positive correlation with dental BMD (r=1.0 at week 4), while phosphorus exhibited a perfect negative correlation (r=-1.0) at the same timepoint. In males, alkaline phosphatase and calcium demonstrated strong positive correlations with dental BMD (r=0.8 and r=0.9 respectively during week 4). In rats with symphyseal drill holes, both genders showed moderate to strong positive correlations between alkaline phosphatase/calcium and symphyseal BMD (r=0.6-0.8), with phosphorus showing variable correlations across weeks. Conclusion-Biochemical markers such as alkaline phosphatase and calcium, together with bone mineral density measurements, offer effective monitoring of bone healing and could optimize clinical protocols for patients with bone problems.