# Assessing Genotoxicity of Bovine Pericardium in Guided Tissue Regeneration: Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay With Exogenous Metabolic Activation

## TL;DR

This study tested whether bovine pericardium used in dental treatments causes genetic damage and found no evidence of mutagenicity.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the genotoxic safety of bovine pericardium membranes in periodontal therapy using the Ames test.

## Key findings

- Bovine pericardium membranes showed no significant mutagenic effects in bacterial strains.
- Revertant counts remained within normal ranges across tested concentrations.
- The material is considered non-genotoxic under the experimental conditions.

## Abstract

Introduction

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is integral to periodontal therapy, facilitating the repair of osseous defects. Due to the widespread use of bovine pericardium (BP) in GTR, a thorough investigation into its genotoxicity is essential for patient safety and treatment efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effects of local BP in GTR for periodontal osseous defects.

Materials and methods

The Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay (Ames test) was used to assess the genotoxic potential of local BP. An exogenous metabolic activation system was employed to evaluate the direct effects of the material on bacterial cells.

Results

The study investigated the mutagenic effects of local BP across multiple strains of Salmonella typhimurium, utilizing concentrations ranging from 0.3125 mg/plate to 5 mg/plate. While some variability was observed in revertant counts, the generally low SDs suggest a consistent response to the test substance. The maximum revertant count for each strain did not significantly exceed the mean values, indicating the absence of notable outliers or exceptionally high revertant counts at any specific concentration. Based on the data and toxicity assessment criteria, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the experimental material induces genotoxic effects in the tested bacterial strains under the provided experimental conditions.

Conclusion

This study assessed the mutagenic potential of local BP membranes used in GTR with the Ames test. Results showed no evidence of mutagenicity, as revertant counts did not exceed twice the negative control in all bacterial strains with exogenous metabolic activation. This suggests that bovine pericardium membranes are safe for medical use under the test conditions. The study highlights the biocompatibility and non-mutagenic nature of BP membranes in GTR for periodontal therapy.