title: Psychological stress delays periodontitis healing in rats: the involvement of basic fibroblast growth factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of psychological stress on periodontitis healing in rats and the contribution of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression to the healing process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six rats were randomly distributed into control group, periodontitis group, and periodontitis plus stress group. Then, the rats were sacrificed at baseline and week(s) 1, 2, and 4. The periodontitis healing condition was assessed, and the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and bFGF were tested by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stressed rats showed reduced body weight gain, behavioral changes, and increased serum corticosterone and ACTH levels (P < 0.05). The surface of inflammatory infiltrate, alveolar bone loss, attachment loss, and expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the stress group were higher than those in the periodontitis group at weeks 2 and 4 (P < 0.05). Rats with experimental periodontitis showed decreased bFGF expression (P < 0.05), and the recovery of bFGF expression in the stress group was slower than that in the periodontitis group (P < 0.05). Negative correlations between inflammatory cytokines and bFGF were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological stress could delay periodontitis healing in rats, which may be partly mediated by downregulation of the expression of bFGF in the periodontal ligament.
authors: Department of General Dentistry and Emergency, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
authors: Ya-Juan
authors: YJ
authors: Zhao
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Bai-Xiang
authors: BX
authors: Cheng
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Yong-Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D015430:Weight Gain; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone