A rabbit model for experimental alveolar cleft grafting

Mohammad Kamal 1 2, Lars Andersson 3, Rene Tolba 4, Alexander Bartella 5, Felix Gremse 6, Frank Hölzle 5, Peter Kessler 7, Bernd Lethaus 5

Affiliations

doi: 10.1186/s12967-017-1155-2

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to develop an animal model for creating alveolar cleft defects with properly simulated clinical defect environment for tissue-engineered bone-substitute materials testing without compromising the health of the animal. Cleft creation surgery was aimed at creating a complete alveolar cleft with a wide bone defect with an epithelial lining (oral mucosa) overlying the cleft defect.

Methods: A postmortem skull of a New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit skull (Oryctolagus cuniculus) underwent an osteological and imaging survey. A pilot postmortem surgery was conducted to confirm the feasability of a surgical procedure and the defect was also radiologically confirmed and illustrated with micro-computed tomography. Then, a surgical in vivo model was tested and evaluated in 16 (n = 16) 8-week-old NZW rabbits to create in vivo alveolar cleft creation surgery.

Results: Clinical examination and imaging analysis 8 weeks after cleft creation surgery revealed the establishment of a wide skeletal defect extending to the nasal mucosa simulating alveolar clefts in all of the rabbits.

Conclusions: Our surgical technique was successful in creating a sizable and predictable model for bone grafting material testing. The model allows for simulating the cleft site environment and can be used to evaluate various bone grafting materials in regard to efficacy of osteogenesis and healing potential without compromising the health of the animal.

Keywords: Animal testing; Cleft lip and palate; Grafting; Rabbit; Tissue-engineering.

Figures

Fig. 1 Osteological survey of New Zealand White rabbit skull. Preserved skull of a NZW rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) showing the depth and orientation of the maxillary incisor alveolus after removing the central incisor. The alveolus penetrates into the maxillary bone laterally with strong curvature toward the palatal shelf. The tooth extends just shorts of the extensively aerated maxillary sinus

Fig. 1 Osteological survey of New Zealand White rabbit skull. Preserved skull of a NZW rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) showing the depth and orientation of the maxillary incisor alveolus after removing the central incisor. The alveolus penetrates into the maxillary bone laterally with strong curvature toward the palatal shelf. The tooth extends just shorts of the extensively aerated maxillary sinus

Fig. 2 Imaging survey. Micro-CT three-dimensional reconstruction of a preserved skull of a NZW rabbit showing the depth and morphology of the extraction socket. Coronal sections at the level of the central incisors show thin bony plates separating the tooth from the nasal cavity

Fig. 2 Imaging survey. Micro-CT three-dimensional reconstruction of a preserved skull of a NZW rabbit showing the depth and morphology of the extraction socket. Coronal sections at the level of the central incisors show thin bony plates separating the tooth from the nasal cavity

Fig. 3 Postmortem pilot alveolar cleft creation surgery. a–i Postmortem pilot alveolar cleft creation surgery of a sacrificed NZW rabbit showing the modification of the extraction socket to expose the nasal lining. The defect can be completely covered by mucosa to allow healing and enable mucosal coverage of the cleft surfaces

Fig. 3 Postmortem pilot alveolar cleft creation surgery. a–i Postmortem pilot alveolar cleft creation surgery of a sacrificed NZW rabbit showing the modification of the extraction socket to expose the nasal lining. The defect can be completely covered by mucosa to allow healing and enable mucosal coverage of the cleft surfaces

Fig. 4 Postmortem imaging. Micro-CT imaging of the created cleft in a pilot postmortem surgery. Coronal view at the level of the anterior part of the extraction socket shows a complete cleft 8 mm wide extending from the oral cavity to the nasal cavity. Coronal view at the apical region of the extracted central incisor shows a residual defect with all bony walls intact

Fig. 4 Postmortem imaging. Micro-CT imaging of the created cleft in a pilot postmortem surgery. Coronal view at the level of the anterior part of the extraction socket shows a complete cleft 8 mm wide extending from the oral cavity to the nasal cavity. Coronal view at the apical region of the extracted central incisor shows a residual defect with all bony walls intact

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KMEL References

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