title: Effect of metronidazole on experimental periodontitis: cell population characteristics.
abstract: Systemic administration of metronidazole during an experimental periodontitis resulted in significantly less active tissue destruction compared to drug-free animals. However, the size of the inflammatory infiltrates in both groups was similar. The present study assessed cell populations within the infiltrates of metronidazole receiving and drug-free animals. In the experimental group, metronidazole was administered orally to 4 squirrel monkeys (100 mg/kg body weight per day) for 17 days. After 3 days, marginal periodontitis was induced around maxillary and mandibular bicuspids and molars by tying silk ligatures at the gingival margins. In 4 monkeys of the drug-free control group, periodontitis was induced around similar teeth. Biopsies of the gingiva representing 3, 7 and 14 days of experimental periodontitis were taken in both groups. The total number of cells and the number of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN's) were counted on one-micron sections. At 3 days after ligature placement, there were numerically less total cells and PMN's in the metronidazole receiving experimental group. At 7 and 14 days the total number of cells and the number of PMN's was significantly greater in the drug-free control group, where more active periodontal breakdown had occurred. These results emphasize the potentially destructive role of PMN's in acute bursts of tissue destruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Zappa
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Polson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Espeland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005881:Gingiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012453:Saimiri; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole