Alloxan-induced diabetes triggers the development of periodontal disease in rats.
BACKGROUND
Periodontal disease in diabetic patients presents higher severity and prevalence; and increased severity of ligature-induced periodontal disease has been verified in diabetic rats. However, in absence of aggressive stimuli such as ligatures, the influence of diabetes on rat periodontal tissues is incompletely explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the establishment and progression of periodontal diseases in rats only with diabetes induction.


RESULTS
Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats (n = 25) by intravenous administration of alloxan (42 mg/kg) and were analyzed at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after diabetes induction. The hemimandibles were removed and submitted to radiographical and histopathological procedures. A significant reduction was observed in height of bone crest in diabetic animals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, which was associated with increased numbers of osteoclasts and inflammatory cells. The histopathological analyses of diabetic rats also showed a reduction in density of collagen fibers, fibroblasts and blood vessels. Severe caries were also detected in the diabetic group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that diabetes induction triggers, or even co-induces the onset of alterations which are typical of periodontal diseases even in the absence of aggressive factors such as ligatures. Therefore, diabetes induction renders a previously resistant host into a susceptible phenotype, and hence diabetes can be considered a very important risk factor to the development of periodontal disease.
Claudino
Marcela
M
Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dentistry of Bauru, São Paulo University, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ceolin
Danielle Santi
DS
Alberti
Sandra
S
Cestari
Tania Mary
TM
Spadella
César Tadeu
CT
Rubira-Bullen
Izabel Regina Fischer
IR
Garlet
Gustavo Pompermaier
GP
de Assis
Gerson Francisco
GF
D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000496:Alloxan