Morphologic, functional and behavioral effects of titanium dioxide exposure on nerves.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore morphologic, functional, and behavioral effects of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) on nerves.


METHODS
A total of 17 albino rats were used for nerve conduction experiments, hot-plate tests, and histological evaluation. TiO(2) was implanted unilaterally on the sciatic nerves of five rats. Ten days after surgery, test and control nerves were dissected and their signal transduction speeds were quantified by suction electrodes in a bath containing a Tyrode solution. Twelve rats were divided into three equal groups resulting in equal number of nerves (n=8) for TiO(2) implantation, surgical exposure of the nerves, and for use as controls. One week after surgery, hot-plate tests were undertaken for 10 consecutive days to determine response latencies of the nerves. At the termination of the experiments, the nerves were harvested, processed, and examined under a microscope.


RESULTS
The signal transduction speeds of TiO(2)-implanted nerves was similar to control specimens (P>0.05). The avoidance responses of TiO(2)-implanted, surgically exposed, and control nerves were comparable (P>0.05). At the cellular level, TiO(2) did not lead to any signs of adverse reactions on nerves.


CONCLUSIONS
TiO(2), the main oxide surrounding endosseous titanium implants, does not alter the structure and the function of myelinated nerves.
Onur
Mehmet Ali
MA
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey.
Taş
Zeynep
Z
Gürpinar
Aylin
A
Sahin
Saime
S
Cehreli
Murat Cavit
MC
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003764:Dental Materials; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium