Análise histológica e imunohistoquímica de tecido ósseo alveo-lar e do ligamento periodontal em ratos após indução de sepse

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have pointed the periodontal disease as the most prevalent bone disorder in humans. Its aetiology is defined in a multifactorial way, in which there is influence of systemic illnesses. In fact, many studies report this asso-ciation and, in such context, sepsis is a systemic disease characterized by an organic malfunction that is life threatening, caused by a deregulated response from the host to certain infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate through histological and immunohistochemical analyses whether sepsis is able to have influence on the bone metabolism in the periodontal regions. Methods: Two groups of Wistar rats were used, which were divided into control (n=6) and sepsis (n=6). The animals were submitted to the model of procedure cecum link and perforation (CLP) and, after 24 hours, through an anaesthetic overdose, their hemimandibles were collected and submitted to histo-technical procedures. Next, periodontal components such as bone matrix, collagenous fibers, fibroblasts, osteocytes, inflammatory cells, blood vessels, periodontal ligament blank spaces, alveolar bone and bone from the furcation area were evaluated and quantified using the histomorphometric analysis. Later on, immunohistochemical anal-ysis was carried out in the same regions, aiming at evaluating the number of BMP-2/4, osteocalcin and RANKL immunolabeled cells. Results: The histomorphometric analy-sis did not reveal significant differences between the groups under analysis. However, immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant differences in the number of immu-nolabelled cells between the control and sepsis groups for osteocalcin and RANKL. Conclusions: Some modifications were observed in the periodontium of rats after 24 hours of induction of sepsis. However, further studies are required to enable a broader evaluation of the possible effects of the sepsis on the periodontal region, including molecular evaluations and with longer experimental periods.