INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Animals
Materials
Study design
![]() | Figure 1Four circular defects (diameter: 8 mm) were created in the calvarium of each rabbit, and were randomly assigned, moving clockwise from the top left: control group, CA group, MAP group, MAP-PCL group. Specimens were harvested at 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively.CA: cyanoacrylate, MAP: mussel adhesive protein, MAP-PCL: mussel adhesive protein-polycaprolactone.
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Surgical protocol
Clinical observations
Histological and histometric analysis
- Total augmented area (TA; mm2): The area between the defect margins, including bony structures, residual materials, adipose tissue, and connective tissue. The superior boundary of the area is the collagen membrane or periosteum.
- NB (mm2): Area of newly formed bone within the defect.
- Residual graft material area (RG; mm2): Area of the remaining bone graft particles within the defect.
- %NB: Ratio of NB to TA.
Statistical analysis

RESULTS
Clinical observations
Histological analysis
Control group
![]() | Figure 2Histologic observations at 2 weeks postoperatively. (A) Control group: the defect had collapsed, but woven bone structures were observed growing from the peripheral area. (B, C) CA and MAP group: the defect was mainly occupied by the connective tissue, and a large space existed below or in the membrane. (D) MAP-PCL group: the defect space was well-maintained by the barrier membrane and supporting PCL block (Masson trichrome staining).CA: cyanoacrylate, MAP: mussel adhesive protein, MAP-PCL: mussel adhesive protein-polycaprolactone, PCL: polycaprolactone.
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![]() | Figure 3Histologic observations at 2 weeks postoperatively. (A) Control group: a few bony islands were observed. (B, C) CA and MAP groups: the membrane remained present as a collagen network and many newly formed vessels were observed in the defect area. (D) MAP-PCL group: the membrane was closely attached to the block graft and surrounding bone (Masson trichrome staining).CA: cyanoacrylate, MAP: mussel adhesive protein, MAP-PCL: mussel adhesive protein-polycaprolactone.
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![]() | Figure 4Histologic observations at 8 weeks postoperatively. (A) Control group: bone tissue was found in all zones. (B, C) CA and MAP groups: the collagen membranes were no longer observable. In the CA group, blank spaces were still present. (D) MAP-PCL group: the PCL block maintained the original morphology compared to at 2 weeks of healing (Masson trichrome staining).CA: cyanoacrylate, MAP: mussel adhesive protein, MAP-PCL: mussel adhesive protein-polycaprolactone, PCL: polycaprolactone.
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![]() | Figure 5Histologic observations at 8 weeks postoperatively. (A) Control group: formation of bony islands was observed in the central part of the defect. (B) CA group: extensive inflammatory infiltrates were observed around newly formed bone. (C) MAP group: a few bony islands were observed, mainly in the lower part. (D) MAP-PCL group: new bone formation in the upper portion of the block was observed (Masson trichrome staining).CA: cyanoacrylate, MAP: mussel adhesive protein, MAP-PCL: mussel adhesive protein-polycaprolactone.
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CA group
MAP group
MAP-PCL group
Histometric analysis
![]() | Figure 6NB in each group.NB: new bone area, CA: cyanoacrylate, MAP: mussel adhesive protein, MAP-PCL: mussel adhesive protein-polycaprolactone.
a)Statistically significant difference between groups (P<0.05).
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Table 1
Histometric analysis at 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively


DISCUSSION
