Osteonecrosis of the jaw
This project aims at investigating the vascular and immune cell responses focusing on the role of the lymphatic system in osteonecrosis of the jaw and assessing the possible therapeutic effect of resolvin RvE1 on osteonecrosis progression. The results will contribute with new data on the pathogenesis and on a possibly innovative therapeutic approach of a condition with worldwide increasing incidence and currently unclear mechanisms of development.
Transgenic mice aged 6-8 weeks (K14-VEGFR3-Ig) and age-matched controls (C57BL/6) will be used in this study at the Deparment of Biomedicine, University of Bergen. They will be subjected to systemic subcutaneous injections with bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid) with previously established protocols. Mice from both groups will also be subjected to subcutaneous injections with control vehicle (sterile saline). After 3 weeks unilateral first maxillary molars will be extracted. The contralateral sides will serve as controls.
Following the period of three weeks, transgenic mice will be sacrificed and tissues collected.
During the three week post-extraction period the control mice (C57BL/6) will be divided in two groups; half of them will receive a local treatment with resolvin RvE1 to the extraction site. By the end of three weeks these mice will also be sacrificed and tissues collected.
To reduce number of experimental animals, some animals will serve as controls (no active systemic treatment); only one side will be subjected to dental extraction, while the other will serve as control. In order to decrease pain and discomfort analgesics will be used throughout the post-extraction period.
A minimum sample size was estimated at 22 animals/group. Since some animals may be lost during the procedures, 3 additional animals will be included in each group. In addition to these, a pilot study will be performed where an inclusion of five animals from each group (transgenic and controls) is expected.
A total number of 60 mice is expected to be used in this study.
Transgenic mice aged 6-8 weeks (K14-VEGFR3-Ig) and age-matched controls (C57BL/6) will be used in this study at the Deparment of Biomedicine, University of Bergen. They will be subjected to systemic subcutaneous injections with bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid) with previously established protocols. Mice from both groups will also be subjected to subcutaneous injections with control vehicle (sterile saline). After 3 weeks unilateral first maxillary molars will be extracted. The contralateral sides will serve as controls.
Following the period of three weeks, transgenic mice will be sacrificed and tissues collected.
During the three week post-extraction period the control mice (C57BL/6) will be divided in two groups; half of them will receive a local treatment with resolvin RvE1 to the extraction site. By the end of three weeks these mice will also be sacrificed and tissues collected.
To reduce number of experimental animals, some animals will serve as controls (no active systemic treatment); only one side will be subjected to dental extraction, while the other will serve as control. In order to decrease pain and discomfort analgesics will be used throughout the post-extraction period.
A minimum sample size was estimated at 22 animals/group. Since some animals may be lost during the procedures, 3 additional animals will be included in each group. In addition to these, a pilot study will be performed where an inclusion of five animals from each group (transgenic and controls) is expected.
A total number of 60 mice is expected to be used in this study.