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Low-level laser therapy improves bone formation: stereology findings for osteoporosis in rat model

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Abstract

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) benefits bone metabolism, but its use needs to be standardized. We evaluated the effects of LLLT on bone defects in calvaria of ovariectomized rats. Stereology was used to calculate tissue repair volume (V tr ), density of trabecular bone volume (Vv t ), total volume of newly formed trabecular bone (Vtot), and the area occupied by collagen fibers (A C ). Fifty-four Wistar rats were submitted to bilateral ovariectomy, and bone defects were created in calvaria after 150 days. The animals were divided into nine groups (n = 6), and 24 h after defects, the treatment started with a 780-nm low-intensity GaAlAs laser: G1, G2, and G3 received 3 sessions of 0, 20, and 30 J/cm2 respectively; G4, G5, and G6 received 6 sessions of 0, 20, and 30 J/cm2, respectively; and G7, G8, and G9 received 12 sessions of 0, 20, and 30 J/cm2, respectively. A normal distribution was found for all of the data. The test used to verify the normality was the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS, p > 0.05). The one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test was used for data processing. A difference of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Groups G2 and G1 showed significance for V tr , Vv t , Vtot, and (A C ). Results were significant for (Vv t ) and (Vtot) between G3 and G1. There were no significant results between G5 and G4 as well as between G8 and G7. Groups G6 and G4 results showed statistical difference for V tr , Vv t , Vtot, and (A C ). Groups G9 and G7 showed significance for V tr , Vv t , Vtot, and (A C ). In conclusion, there was new bone formation in the groups that received 20 and 30 J/cm2 when compared to control groups, but over time, the dose of 30 J/cm2 showed better stereological parameters when compared to 20 J/cm2.

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Acknowledgments

We thank FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation—Processes No. 2011/50686-0 and 2012/10184-9), CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), and Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade de São Paulo for financial support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

“All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, USP—University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Priscilla Hakime Scalize, Luiz Gustavo de Sousa, Simone Cecílio Hallak Regalo, Marisa Semprini, Dimitrius Leonardo Pitol, Giselle Aparecida da Silva, Jéssica de Almeida Coelho, Karina Fittipaldi Bombonato Prado & Selma Siessere

  2. School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Antônio Augusto Coppi

  3. Laboratory of Stochastic Stereology and Chemical Anatomy (LSSCA), Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, USP—University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Aliny A B Lobo Laad

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  1. Priscilla Hakime Scalize
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  2. Luiz Gustavo de Sousa
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  3. Simone Cecílio Hallak Regalo
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Correspondence to Selma Siessere.

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Scalize, P.H., de Sousa, L.G., Regalo, S.C.H. et al. Low-level laser therapy improves bone formation: stereology findings for osteoporosis in rat model. Lasers Med Sci 30, 1599–1607 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-015-1773-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-015-1773-y

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