VALIDAÇÃO DE MODELO DE INDUÇÃO DE CANDIDOSE BUCAL E AVALIAÇÃO DA TOXICIDADE SISTÊMICA AGUDA À CLOREXIDINA EM RATOS WISTAR

Abstract

Purpose: This Dissertation was composed by two studies. The first study evaluated sterilization methods of acrylic palatal devices for animal use, as well as performed their contamination with Candida albicans. In addition, the duration of oral candidosis induced by different protocols in immunocompetent Wistar rats and the effectiveness of the induction of denture stomatitis in immunocompetent Wistar rats under antibiotic therapy was analyzed. The second one evaluated the effectiveness of histological and biochemical parameters as markers of acute hepatic, renal, pulmonary, and gastric toxicity caused by gavage administration of toxic doses of chlorhexidine (Chx) in Wistar rats. Material and methods: For the first study, acrylic devices were made from impressions of the animals’ palate with individual trays and polyether. Sterilization of the devices (n=5) was verified after submission to microwave (MW), ultraviolet light (UV), ultrasonic bath (US), or none method (NC), and assessed by colony viability and spectrophotometric analyses. Then, devices’ contamination with C. albicans was performed and confirmed by counting Colony Forming Units (CFU)/mL (n=6) and by laser confocal microscopy (n=5). Subsequently, 20 animals were divided into five groups (n=4): Nc=none protocol; Id=cementation of a sterile intraoral device; In=inoculation of a C. albicans suspension on the palate, without wearing a device; Cd=cementation of a device contamined by C. albicans; In+Cd=junction of In and Cd groups. The rats were monitored for one week to verify the presence of clinical signs of oral candidosis by taking photographs of their palates and tongues. CFU/mL counts were determined from the collected material of their palates using swabs. After one week, euthanasia was performed and the palates and tongues were removed for histopathological analysis. Finally, other animals of Nc (n=2), Id (n=6), or In+Cd groups (n=6) received tetracycline in the drinking water 7 days before being submitted to the protocols. After the disease installation period (four days using the devices), the same analyzes were performed. For the second study, two groups were evaluated (n=9): NC=administration of 1.5 mL of distilled water (vehicle) via gavage or Chx=1.5 g/Kg of Chx diluted in the vehicle. After 24 h, the animals had their blood collected and organs removed. In the plasma, the levels of urea, creatinine and uric acid (for kidney assessment), glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (AP) (for liver assessment), glycemia and lactate dehydrogenase were analyzed. The organs were evaluated by histopathological analysis. Results: In the first study, MW was the only method capable of sterilizing the devices (p<0.05; ANOVA 1-way/Tukey HSD), and the protocol used for contamination was considered satisfactory, developing a biofilm composed by viable hyphae and yeasts (1.2 x 106 CFU/mL). No clinical changes were observed in the palates of the animals. Areas of localized papillary atrophy were observed on the tongue dorsum of animals from In, Cd, and In+Cd groups until four days after the infection installation. The recovery of C. albicans was considered low and the highest values were obtained from the In+Cd group. Histologically, no alterations were observed. With the animals under antibiotic 13 therapy, the recovered values of C. albicans were 10 times higher for the In+Cd group after the infection installation (1.3 x 104 CFU/mL). It was observed localized erythema and tissue edema on the palatal mucosa and papillary atrophy on tongue dorsum of these animals. Histologically, microabscesses and inflammatory infiltrate in the palate, as well as fungal invasion in the tongue epithelium were also observed. In the second study, Clx caused weight loss (p=0.001), and reduction in food intake (p=0.008; ANOVA 2-way for the repeated measures/Tukey HSD), respiratory distress, and an increase in GOT (p=0.026) and GPT levels (p = 0.009), and decrease in AP levels (p=0.020; unpaired t-test). Microscopically, higher hepatic alterations (p=0.009; Chi-squared test) were found for NC group and higher gastric alterations (p=0.05), for Chx group, which showed moderate changes (score 3). Conclusion: In the first study, MW sterilized the devices; C. albicans biofilm was formed on their surfaces; denture stomatitis in animals under antibiotic therapy was evidenced macroscopically, microscopically, and histologically. In the second study, Chx gavage administration caused hepatotoxicity and gastric damage.