Study on the effect of berberine on the osseointegration capacity and tissue response of titanium implants installed in the tibias of rats with induced obesity

• Grant number: 24/21849-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Periodontology
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Milanezi de Almeida
• Grantee: Pedro Penati Pimpinato
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate whether berberine can influence the osseointegration capacity and tissue response of titanium implants placed in the tibiae of rats with diet-induced obesity. A total of 80 male rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar) will be randomly allocated into four experimental groups. All groups will undergo obesity induction through a cafeteria diet for 12 weeks prior to the administration of BER at 120 mg/kg/day or 0.7 mL/kg/day of 0.9% saline solution (SS) via gastric gavage (GG) for 3 weeks. Following this period, titanium implants will be placed in the right and left tibiae. Body weight and Lee index will be monitored weekly throughout the experiment to assess obesity induction, and glycemic levels will also be measured during the study. The experimental groups are as follows: N/SS: daily administration of 0.7 mL/kg of SS via GG, with monitoring throughout the experimental period and implant placement; N/BER: daily administration of 120 mg/kg of BER via GG, starting on the day of implant placement; OBE/SS: daily administration of 0.7 mL/kg of SS via GG, starting on the day of implant placement; OBE/BER: daily administration of 120 mg/kg of BER via GG, starting on the day of implant placement. Euthanasia will be performed at 17 and 30 days post-implantation. The specimens will be harvested, fixed, and washed for subsequent processing, with or without demineralization, depending on the type of analysis. Histological analysis of the peri-implant region will be conducted, along with confocal laser microscopy to assess peri-implant bone mineral apposition. Histometric analyses will evaluate the percentage of newly formed bone tissue (PNBT) and bone-to-implant contact (BIC).