title: Effects of induced periapical abscesses on rat pregnancy outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the effects of induced periapical abscesses on pregnant rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1/2 of the animals (n=16), the pulps of the maxillary right molars were exposed to the oral environment, which resulted in a periapical abscess. The other 1/2 (n=16) were sham-operated. 1/2 of the animals of both groups became pregnant 2 weeks later. The pregnancy duration, and weight and number of pups were assessed at delivery. Serum, liver and uterine horn samples were taken from all animals at euthanasia and serum IL-6, endothelin-1, TNF-alpha, IL-10, cortisol and insulin were determined by ELISA. Liver concentrations of IL-6, CRP and IL-6 and uterine horn concentrations of IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-1-beta were assessed by ELISA. Blood glucose concentrations were determined using a glucometer. Outcome variables were compared by factorial ANOVA, a post hoc Tukey test, and Pearson's correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant rats with periapical abscesses had a significantly longer pregnancy and delivered pups with a significantly higher birthweight (p<0.05). They had significantly higher concentrations of IL-6, VEGF, IL-1-beta, and IL-10 within the uterine horn and IL-6, CRP and TNF-alpha within the liver (p<0.01). Blood glucose and serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, endothelin-1, IL-10, and insulin concentrations were significantly higher in the pregnant animals with pulpal abscesses (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant increase in serum TNF-alpha, taken together with significant increases in blood glucose and serum insulin concentrations, suggest that animals with induced periapical abscesses developed insulin resistance, which significantly affected their pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Preventive Sciences, University of Mississippi, School of Dentistry, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Naftel
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007328:Insulin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha