title: Effects of alpha-tocopherol on gingival expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the rats with experimental periodontitis and diabetes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate effects of α-tocopherol and/or insulin on the number of gingival inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) positive cells in rats with experimental periodontitis with or without streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.
  
  
  
  A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Group I: The group without diabetes; Group II: The group with STZ-induced diabetes; Group III: The group with STZ-induced diabetes receiving insulin therapy. All animals received anesthesia, and 3/0 silk suture was inserted around the mandibular molar teeth. All groups were divided into subgroups receiving saline (Groups IA, IIA, IIIA) and α-tocopherol injection (Groups IB, IIB, IIIB). After a period of 3 weeks, all rats were sacrificed, and the number of gingival iNOS positive cells was analyzed using image analysis software.
  
  
  
  Applying α-tocopherol suppressed the number of gingival iNOS positive cells in Groups IB, IIB, and IIIB compared to application of saline (Groups IA, IIA, and IIIA) (P < 0.05). Numbers of gingival iNOS positive cells were found to be similar in the Groups I and III (P > 0.05).
  
  
  
  Within limitations of the current study, this is the first study one may suggest that α-tocopherol may reduce oxidative damage in the gingiva of the rats with periodontitis with or without STZ-induced diabetes and increase effects of insulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatipoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Baskent University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: N Ö
authors.initials: NÖ
authors.lastname: Alptekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Avunduk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D005881:Gingiva / Q000187:drug effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol