Tissue response to white mineral aggregate-based cement containing barium sulfate as alternative radiopacifier: A randomized controlled animal study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the tissue reaction stimulated by BaSO4- and Bi2O3-containing White MTA Angelus, in comparison with Bi2O3-containing white Portland cement, and white ProRoot MTA. Thirty-six adult male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus), weighing between 250 and 300 g, were distributed into three groups (n= 12) in accordance with the period of sacrifice (15, 30, and 60 days). Four polyethylene tubes filled with the tested cements were implanted into the dorsum of each rat. Lateral wall of the tubes served as the negative control. After the experimental periods, the animals were euthanized by overdose of pentobarbital anesthetic solution, and the specimens were prepared for microscopic analysis under x50, x100, and x400 magnifications. Inflammatory scores (0-3) were used to grade the tissue reaction. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's test for individual comparisons (p < .05). A mild to moderate inflammatory tissue reaction was observed at the 15-day period, which decreased over the course of the periods for all cements, except for Portland cement. There was no significant difference among the tissue responses for ProRoot MTA, BaSO4- and Bi2O3-containing White MTA Angelus at the 60-day period (p > .05). The Portland group had moderate inflammatory reaction at the final period of analysis, which was statistically different when compared to the other groups (p < .05). The microscopic findings of this animal study suggest that the addition of BaSO(4)to White MTA Angelus does not hampers the biocompatibility of the cement.