The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo and in vitro the effectiveness of the use of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 with carbonate apatite (CO₃Ap) on periodontal healing. Periodontal defects created in the maxillary first molars in rats were treated with FGF-2, CO₃Ap, FGF-2 + CO₃Ap or left unfilled. Healing was evaluated using microcomputed tomography, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses. In vitro experiments were performed to assess cellular behaviors and the expression of osteoblastic differentiation markers in MC3T3-E1 cells. At 4 weeks, the bone volume fraction in the FGF-2 + CO₃Ap group was significantly greater than that in the CO₃Ap group, but there was no significant difference from the FGF-2 group. The FGF-2 + CO₃Ap group demonstrated greater new bone compared with the FGF-2 or CO₃Ap group. The FGF-2 + CO₃Ap group showed greater levels of osteocalcin-positive cells compared with the CO₃Ap group, but there was no significant difference from the FGF-2 group. In vitro, the FGF-2 + CO₃Ap group exhibited a greater extent of cell attachment and more elongated cells compared with the CO₃Ap group. Compared with the CO₃Ap group, the FGF-2 + CO₃Ap group showed significantly higher viability/proliferation, but the expressions of Runx2 and Sp7 were reduced. The results indicated that the use of FGF-2 with CO₃Ap enhanced healing in the periodontal defects. FGF-2 promoted cell attachment to and proliferation on CO₃Ap and regulated osteoblastic differentiation, thereby contributing to novel bone formation.

This study investigated the effects of local fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 application on periodontal healing in an osteoporotic model, both in vivo and in vitro. Wistar rats were divided into the ovariectomy (OVX) and Control groups. Periodontal defects were created 8 weeks post-OVX and treated with hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) or FGF-2 + HPC. Healing was evaluated through micro-computed tomography and histological analyses at 2 and 4 weeks. In vitro, bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) were cultured with/without FGF-2 and assessed for cell morphology, viability/proliferation, and osteoblastic marker expression. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining was also performed. FGF-2-treated defects in both groups showed significantly greater bone volume fraction, trabecular number, and thickness compared to HPC only. Histologically, FGF-2 enhanced new bone formation, with the greatest levels in the Control group. In vitro, OVX BMSCs showed reduced actin staining versus controls. FGF-2 increased cell viability/proliferation and protrusions in both groups while downregulating Alpl and Bglap expression levels and reducing ALP-positive cells. FGF-2 increased new bone formation in the OVX group, stimulated proliferation of OVX BMSCs, and modulated their differentiation. FGF-2 could enhance periodontal healing even under osteoporotic conditions, albeit to a lesser extent.