Journal of Pharmacological Sciences (Jan 2007)

Bone Formation With the Combination of Simvastatin and Calcium Sulfate in Critical-Sized Rat Calvarial Defect

  • Myat Nyan,
  • Daisuke Sato,
  • Mitsumasa Oda,
  • Tetsu Machida,
  • Hiroshi Kobayashi,
  • Takahiro Nakamura,
  • Shohei Kasugai

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 104, no. 4
pp. 384 – 386

Abstract

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Simvastatin, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor, enhances BMP2 expression in osteoblasts. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether simvastatin stimulates bone regeneration when combined with calcium sulfate as a carrier. Critical-sized bone defects in rat calvaria were treated with calcium sulfate or with combination of 1 mg simvastatin and calcium sulfate. In the combination group, although the least amount of bone formation with intense soft tissue inflammation was observed at 2 and 4 weeks, remarkable bone formation was evident at 8 weeks. Conclusively, the combination of simvastatin and calcium sulfate stimulated bone regeneration in spite of the inflammatory response. Keywords:: simvastatin, calcium sulfate, bone formation