The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of periodontal ligament cells of rat teeth after low-temperature preservation under high pressure by means of MTT assay, WST-1 assay. 12 teeth of Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old were used for each group.

Both side of the first and second maxillary molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under tiletamine anesthesia. The experimental groups were group 1 (Immediate extraction), group 2 (Slow freezing under pressure of 3 MPa), group 3 (Slow freezing under pressure of 2 MPa), group 4 (Slow freezing under no additional pressure), group 5 (Rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen under pressure of 2 MPa), group 6 (Rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen under no additional pressure), group 7 (low-temperature preservation at 0℃ under pressure of 2 MPa), group 8 (low-temperature preservation at 0℃ under no additional pressure), group 9 (low-temperature preservation at -5℃ under pressure of 90 MPa). F-medium and 10% DMSO were used as preservation medium and cryo-protectant. For cryo-preservation groups, thawing was performed in 37℃ water bath, then MTT assay, WST-1 assay were processed. One way ANOVA and Tukey HSD method were performed at the 95% level of confidence. The values of optical density obtained by MTT assay and WST-1 were divided by the values of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization.

In both MTT and WST-1 assay, group 7 (0℃/2 MPa) showed higher viability of periodontal ligament cells than other group (2-6, 8) and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05), but showed lower viability than group 1, immediate extraction group (no statistical significance).

By the results of this study, low-temperature preservation at 0℃ under pressure of 2 MPa suggest the possibility for long term preservation of teeth.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of periodontal ligament cells in rat teeth using slow cryo-preservation method under pressure by means of MTT assay and WST-1 assay. Eighteen teeth of Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old were used for each group.

Both sides of the first and second maxillary molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under Tiletamine anesthesia. The experimental groups were group 1 (Immediate control), group 2 (Cold preservation at 4°C for 1 week), group 3 (Slow freezing), group 4 (Slow freezing under pressure of 3 MPa). F-medium and 10% DMSO were used as preservation medium and cryo-protectant. For cryo-preservation groups, thawing was performed in 37°C water bath, then MTT assay and WST-1 assay were processed. One way ANOVA and Tukey method were performed at the 95% level of confidence. The values of optical density obtained by MTT assay and WST-1 were divided by the values of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization.

In both MTT and WST-1 assay, group 4 showed significantly higher viability of periodontal ligament cells than group 2 and 3 (p < 0.05), but showed lower viability than immediate control group.

By the results of this study, slow cryo-preservation method under pressure suggests the possibility for long term cryo-preservation of the teeth.

The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of MTT analysis as a tool of measurement of the periodontal ligament cell viability from the extracted rat molar.

A total of 80 Sprague-Dawley white female rat of 4 week-old with a body weight of 100 grams were used. The maxillary left and right, first and second molars were extracted under Ketamine anesthesia. Twenty-four teeth of each group (divided as five groups depending upon the time-lapse after extraction such as immediate, 10, 20, 40 and 60 minutes) were immersed in 200 µl of MTT solution (0.5 mg/ml) and processed for optical density measurements . Another 10 teeth of each group were treated as same as above and sectioned at 10 µm for microscopic examination.

All measurements values were divided by the value of hematoxylin-eosin staining which represented the volume of each corresponding samples. Immediate and 10 minute groups showed highest MTT values followed by 20, 40, and 60 minutes consecutively. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) existed between all groups except in immediate versus 10 minute groups and 40 versus 60 minutes. Histological findings also showed similar findings with MTT results in crystal shape and crystal numbers between the experimental groups.

These data indicate that in vivo MTT analysis may be of value for evaluation of the periodontal ligament cell viability without time- consuming cell culturing processes.