Molecular events on tooth socket healing in diabetic rabbits.

Healing of extraction sockets involves complex cellular events such as repair and regeneration of tissue. These events are precisely controlled and regulated by specific signalling molecules such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which are well-conserved proteins involved in the initial response to injury and repair in soft and hard tissues. We studied 48 rabbits, which were divided into 3 groups of 16 each: the control group, the untreated diabetic group, and the insulin-treated diabetic group.