Prolonged immobilization-induced stress delays alveolar bone healing. A histometric study in rats.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of prolonged immobilization-induced stress on reparative bone formation, using the rat alveolar healing as an experimental protocol. Stress was attained by immobilization for 2 hours a day, beginning three days before extraction of the upper right incisors and continuing until sacrifice. The stress condition was assayed on the basis of plasma corticosterone concentration (measured by double-antibody radioimmunoassay), which increased by 2.5 to 4 times in rats submitted to immobilization. The volume density of neoformed bone filling the alveolar socket was quantified by a histometric differential point-counting method 7 to 21 days following tooth extraction. Stress caused a significant delay in reparative bone increment, somewhat related to impairment of coagulum remission and/or organization.