title: Long-term treatment with methanandamide attenuates LPS-induced periodontitis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence exists of the anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of endocannabinoids in various tissues; the aim of the present study was therefore to assess the effect of long-term treatment with the synthetic cannabinoid methanandamide (Meth-AEA) on the progression of periodontitis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Periodontitis was induced by injecting LPS (1 mg/ml) into the gingiva around the neck of the first upper and lower molars, and into the inter-dental space between the first and second molars. This protocol was repeated for 6 weeks on days 1, 3, and 5 of each week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Long-term treatment with topical Meth-AEA (500 ng/ml), applied daily to gingival tissue of rats induced with periodontitis, significantly diminished the alveolar bone loss, measured as the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar crest, in both maxillary and mandibular first molars, compared to rats without treatment (P < 0.05). The treatment also reduced the production of some biological mediators of periodontal disease augmented by LPS, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (from 119.4 ± 9.9 pg/mg protein to 75.1 ± 10.8, P < 0.05) and nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (from 507.7 ± 107.1 pmol/min/mg protein to 163.1 ± 53.9, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of treatment with Meth-AEA on gingival tissue of rats with periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Oral Physiology, Department of Physiology, Dental School, University of Buenos Aires, Marcelo T. de Alvear 2142, 1122, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cesar A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ossola
authors.forename: Pablo N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Surkin
authors.forename: Antonela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugnaloni
authors.forename: Claudia E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mohn
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Elverdin
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Solari
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000819:agonists; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C088155:methanandamide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D015232:Dinoprostone