No abstract

Calcium blockers are important therapeutic agents used in cardiovascular diseases. Their effects on osseous tissue are about unknown and an action on dental tissues was not previously studied. It was intended in the preent study to analyze the action of calcium blocker verapamil on dental caries induced by cariogenic diet and to correlate the results with alkaline phosphatase inhibition. Material and Methods. Thirty four Wistar male rats were divided in four groups as follows: a)-animals treated with normal diet and no drug (control 1); b)-animals treated with cariogenic diet and no drug (control 2); c)-animals treated with normal diet and verapamil (24 mg/rat/day); c) animals treated with normal diet and verapamil. Salivary alkaline phosphatase was assayed in all the rats. A total of 160 teeth were examined under light stereoscopic microscope regarding to the presence of dental caries in enamel, dentine and pulp. Results. Results are presented as percentage of caries in each group. a)-Control 1-normal diet: no caries; b)-Control 2-cariogenic diet: 48 % of caries; c)-cariogenic diet and verapamil: 75% of caries; d)-normal diet and verapamil: 71% of caries. In the verapamil treated rats, a significant increase of dentine caries was observed. The drug increased salivar phosphatase alkaline activity. Conclusion. Verapamil significantly stimulated dental caries by itself, a result not dependent of the diet and the increasethe in salivary alkaline phosphatase activity; these two phenomena are possibly related between them.

-Calcium blockers are used in cardiovascular diseases, usually in long term treatments and sometimes in pregnant women. Isradipine is an important antihypertensive drug, considered to be safe in pregnancy. In this study, the effects of isradipine were evaluated regarding to the uterine implantation, fetal reabsorption, plasmatic levels of calcium, phosphate and total protein of mother and offspring. Thirty-two female and 12 male quality-controlled Wistar rats were used. The drug was administered in drinking water for 56 days: 35 days before mating and 21 days along the pregnancy. In one group, caesarean surgery was performed on the 20 th //day and in the other, isradipine treatment continued for the naturally born rats, which were observed along 30 days. During the caesarean, blood samples of mothers and newborns were taken and plasmatic / levels of calcium, phosphate and total proteins determined. To observe the drug influence on the bones, femur mineralization of mothers was evaluated. Results showed that isradipine stimulated uterine implantation; however, it increased the fetal reabsorption. No teratogenic effect was observed but newborns displayed a lower body weight. Plasmatic levels of calcium, phosphate and total proteins were not influenced by the drug. Dental eruption was not disturbed in the offspring born from the treated mothers.Key words: isradipine, calcium channel blockers, calcium antagonists and pregnancy.RESUMO -Os bloqueadores de cálcio são utilizados em doenças cardiovasculares, usualmente em tratamentos de longa duração e ocasionalmente em mulheres grávidas. A isradipina é uma importante droga antihipertensiva, considerada segura na gravidez e sem efeitos teratogênicos. Neste estudo foram estudados, em ratos Wistar, os efeitos da isradipina sobre a implantação uterina, reabsorção fetal e sobre os níveis plasmáticos de cálcio, fosfato e proteínas totais. Foram utilizados 32 fêmeas e 12 machos com qualidade controlada. A droga foi administrada na água de beber durante 56 dias, sendo 35 antes do acasalamento e 21 durante a prenhêz. Em um grupo, foi realizada operação cesareana ao 20º / dia de gestação e em outro, os ratos nasceram de parto natural e foram observados durante 30 dias, com manutenção da administração de isradipina. Por ocasião da cesareana foram obtidas amostras de sangue de mães e filhotes, para determinação de cálcio, fosfato e proteínas totais plasmáticas. Para observar a influência da droga no / tratamento prolongado sobre os ossos, a mineralização do fêmur das mães foi avaliada. Os resultados mostraram que a isradipina estimulou a implantação uterina porém aumentou a reabsorção fetal. Nenhum efeito teratogênico foi observado, entretanto ocorreu diminuição significativa do peso dos filhotes. Os níveis plasmãticos de cálcio, fosfato e proteínas totais não foram alterados pela droga. O período da erupção dental não foi alterado nos filhotes nascidos de mães tratadas.

An evaluation has been carried out on the effects of isradipide (Lomir®) on the offspring born from treated mothers and in particular, on the mineralization of the dental germ. Material and Methods. Sixteen female Wistar rats were treated with isradipine (1 mg/rat/day, oral route) and control experiments were run in parallel with untreated animals. The drug was administered along 35 days before mating and 20 days during pregnancy. Blood levels of calcium and phosphate were determined in mothers and newborns. The offspring's heads were prepared for dental germ histology. Results showed that isradipine enhanced uterine implantation (13%) and reduced the number of alive fetuses (17%), evidencing uterine reabsorption. Blood calcium and phosphate were not altered in either mothers or offspring. However, phosphate were significantly higher in newborn from treated mothers (106%) and in those from control rats (102%). No somatic malformation was observed. Histology of dental germ showed an enhanced dentinal matrix. Conclusion: Isradipine induced embryonic and/or fetal toxicity but was not teratogenic and enhanced offspring's dentinal matrix mineralization.