title: Effects of stress hormones on the production of volatile sulfur compounds by periodontopathogenic bacteria.
abstract: Little is known about the effects of stress hormones on the etiologic agents of halitosis. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effects of adrenaline (ADR), noradrenaline (NA) and cortisol (CORT) on bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), the major gases responsible for bad breath. Cultures of Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Porphyromonas endodontalis (Pe), Prevotella intermedia (Pi) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) were exposed to 50 µM ADR, NA and CORT or equivalent volumes of sterile water as controls for 12 and 24 h. Growth was evaluated based on absorbance at 660 nm. Portable gas chromatography was used to measure VSC concentrations. Kruskal-Wallis and the Dunn post-hoc test were used to compare the groups. For Fn, ADR, NA and CORT significantly reduced bacterial growth after 12 h and 24 h (p<0.05). All the substances tested increased hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production (p<0.05). For Pe, all the substances tested reduced bacterial development after 24 h (p<0.05), and NA significantly increased the H2S concentration after 12 h (p<0.05). In the Pg and Pi cultures, no effects on bacterial growth were observed (p>0.05). In the Pi cultures, ADR, NA and CORT increased H2S (p<0.05). Catecholamines and cortisol can interfere with growth and H2S production of sub-gingival species in vitro. This process appears to be complex and supports the association between stress and the production of VSC.
authors.affiliation: Halitosis Diagnostic Center - Halicenter, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline Morini
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Calil
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele Mattos
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Implantology Area, Universidade de Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cogo
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Klein
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Marcondes
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Carlos
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Groppo
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006209:Halitosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000382:microbiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine