Local administration of calcitriol positively influences bone remodeling and maturation during restoration of mandibular bone defects in rats

•More information on collagen material was added in the revised manuscript.•Masson–Goldner trichrome stain was performed for histomorphometry.•More specific information on calcitriol was supplemented in the Discussion section.•The MOD of ALP and Runx2 was explained in more detail.•The inhibition of osteoclastogenesis was described more accurately in the second paragraph of the discussion.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of calcitriol on osteoinduction following local administration into mandibular bone defects. Calcitriol-loaded absorbable collagen membrane scaffolds were prepared using the polydopamine coating method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Composite scaffolds were implanted into rat mandibular bone defects in the following groups: no graft material (control), bare collagen membrane (CM group), collagen membrane bearing polydopamine coating (DOP/CM group), and collagen membrane bearing polydopamine coating absorbed with calcitriol (CAL/DOP/CM group). At 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks post-surgery, the osteogenic potential of calcitriol was examined by histological and immunohistochemical methods. Following in vivo implantation, calcitriol-loaded composite scaffolds underwent rapid degradation with pronounced replacement by new bone and induced reunion of the bone marrow cavity. Calcitriol showed strong potential in inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and promotion of osteogenic differentiation at weeks 1, and 2. Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed that the newly formed bone volume in the CAL/DOP/CM group was significantly higher than other groups at weeks 1, and 2. At weeks 4, and 8, the CAL/DOP/CM group showed more mineralized bone and uniform collagen structure. These data suggest that local administration of calcitriol is promising in promoting osteogenesis and mineralization for restoration of mandibular bone defects.