Vitamin E does not prevent bone loss and induced anxiety in rats with ligature-induced periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on alveolar bone loss (ABL) and anxiety in rats with ligature-induced experimental periodontitis (EP).


METHODS
Wistar rats were subjected to ligature-induced EP and treated with vitamin E (500mg/kg, orally) for 9 days. Then anxiety was tested using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test. All of the animals were euthanised by cervical dislocation on day 11. ABL was analysed morphometrically and histopathologically. Lipid peroxidation quantification, activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase and immunohistochemistry to tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) were also tested.


RESULTS
EP induced a marked inflammatory process and intense ABL. Treatment with vitamin E decreased inflammatory reaction, prevented malondialdehyde formation and reduced the immunoreactivity to iNOS, but did not decrease ABL. Vitamin E had an anxiogenic effect on rats with or without EP.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin E may have potential to reduce oxidative damage and inflammatory response in EP but does not prevent ABL. Attention should be given to indiscriminate use of vitamin E due to the risk of causing anxiety in patients.
Department of Clinical Odontology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Brazil. roseperio@yahoo.com.br
Rosimary de Sousa
Rde S
Carvalho
Carolina Melo
CM
de Souza
Julliana Catharina de Souza
JC
Neves
Sergio Araújo
SA
Holanda-Pinto
Lívia Maria Sales
LM
Pinto
Gerly Anne Castro
GA
Brito
Geanne Matos
GM
de Andrade
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000032:analysis; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase