Immunosuppressant therapy and bone loss in ligature-induced periodontitis: a study in rats

Abstract

Immunosuppressive agents have been recognized as a factor affecting the soft tissues of the periodontium. However, little is known about their effect on periodontitis progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of cyclosporin A (CsA) administration, associated or not with nifedipine, on the bone loss resulting from a ligature-induced periodontitis in rats. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were used. After anesthesia, the mandibular first molar was randomly assigned to receive the cotton ligature in the sulcular area while the contralateral tooth was left unligated. The animals were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: Group A--saline solution; Group B--CsA (10 mg/kg); Group C--nifedipine (50 mg/kg); Group D--CsA (10 mg/kg) plus nifedipine (50 mg/kg). Forty-five days later, the animals were sacrificed and the specimens routinely processed for serial decalcified sections. Intergroup analysis did not reveal significant differences regarding the bone loss volume in the ligated teeth between the experimental treatments (0.46 +/- 0.11, 0.63 +/- 0.32, 0.53 +/- 0.14, 0.50 +/- 0.18, for groups A, B, C and D, respectively--p > 0.05). However, intragroup analysis showed a greater bone loss volume in the ligated teeth than in the unligated ones (p < 0.05). Within the limits of the present study, the conclusion was that the administration of CsA, associated or not with nifedipine, may not influence bone loss in ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.

Previous exposure to Cyclosporine A and periodontal breakdown in rats

“…13 Another tool for evaluating the biological events of periodontal disease is the measurement of periodontal ligament area at the furcation region in which periodontal disease was induced. 14,29 The present study showed that for the groups with induced periodontal disease (LIG and CsAL), LA was similar to one another and higher than in groups without inflammatory process (CsA and CON). Changes were more associated with the presence of inflammation than with the drug action over bone metabolism.…”

“…8,13,14 The present protocol is based on the hypothesis that tissue alterations triggered by the induction of periodontal disease in animals could be modified by CsA mechanisms of action on tissue metabolism. In the present study, gingival total area (GTA) showed higher mean values in experimental groups, suggesting an association between inflammatory condition and cyclosporine (CsA, CsAL and LIG) as a potential factor for gingival overgrowth.…”

Hypertension May Affect Tooth‐Supporting Alveolar Bone Quality: A Study in Rats

“…In agreement with our results, Perlstein and Bissada 13 found that hypertension was not a significant factor on the severity of periodontitis in rats. In addition, a previous study 42 did not observe any effect of nifedipine, a first‐generation dihydropyridine‐calcium antagonist, on ligature‐induced BL. However, it is important to note that the drug was administered in NTRs.…”

Efeitos da ciclosporina A sobre a função renal e hepática de cães da raça Golden Retriever normais ou afetados pela distrofia muscular

“…O estabelecimento de uma dose ideal de CsA é primordial para garantir a ação de imunossupressão a fim de evitar a rejeição de enxertos, como enfatizado por Papich et al (2000) para tratamento de seres humanos e por Gonçalves et al (2003) para ratos. No estudo aqui apresentado foram utilizadas doses que variaram de 1mg/kg a 10mg/kg a cada doze horas, valores esses semelhantes aos descritos para humanos (Bensoussan et al, 2002), para cães (Hogan, et al, 2003;Yilmaz et al, 1998;Kyles et al, 2001e 2003Bernesteen et al, 2003;e Cong et al;1999), e também para gatos (Katayama et al, 2002).…”

“…Mesmo quando a CsA é administrada em doses consideradas adequadas podem ocorrer gengivite e tricose, além da perda de apetite, como constatado Ito et al (1998) e O'Hara, et al (2002 em cães, e por Gonçalves et al (2003) em ratos.…”