Progression of periapical lesion in animals under stress conditions and inflammatory modulation through adrenergic blocker and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Author(s)

Rayana Duarte Khoury

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São José dos Campos. 2022-02-04.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. São José dos Campos
• Defense date: 2021-12-03
• Advisor: Marcia Carneiro Valera

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of chronic stress on induced apical periodontitis (AP) in rats, and to evaluate the effects of the use of fluoxetine (antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), and of Propranolol (beta-adrenergic blocker), associated or not, in inflammatory modulation and periapical bone resorption in stressed rats. Forty rats were divided into five groups: Unstressed control group (NS); Stressed control group with saline solution administration (SS); Stressed group with administration of Fluoxetine (SF); Stressed group with administration of Propranolol (SP); Stressed group with administration of Fluoxetine and Propranolol (SFP). The animals in the stressed groups were submitted to the unpredictable chronic stress paradigm for 6 weeks and the respective medications were administered daily, via gavage, throughout the entire experimental period. AP was induced in all groups, 21 days after the beginning of the stress paradigm, and at the end of the 6th week, the animals were euthanized and the hemi-mandibles removed for the following analyses: a) body weight b) serum corticosterone levels by radioimmunoassay; c) hormone and inflammatory serum levels by Multiplex assay; e) histomorphometric staining with hematoxylin and eosin; f) the periapical bone structure through computerized microtomography; g) gene expression related to osteoclastic activity, inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases in the periapical region by RT-PCR. At the end of the experiment, the stressed animals showed lower body weight gain, significantly higher levels of ACTH, more intense inflammatory infiltrate and higher volumes of periapical lesion when compared to animals in the NS control group. The treated groups SF, SP and SFP had smaller volumes of periapical lesion when compared to the SS control group and the SP group had lower intensity of inflammatory infiltrate. The RT-PCR test showed higher expression of RANKL and TRAP in the stressed control group, as well as higher expression of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and MMP-8 when compared to the NS control group. In comparison with the SS control group, the SF group showed higher expression of OPG, and lower expression of IL-6 and IL-17; the SP group showed higher expression of OPG and lower expression of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, MMP-8 and MMP-13 and the SFP group showed lower expression of RANKL, TRAP, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, MMP-8 and MMP-13. It was concluded that chronic stress negatively influenced the pathogenesis of apical periodontitis and both medications evaluated, as well as its association, had positive effects in preventing bone loss and inflammatory modulation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/10339-9 - Progression of periapical lesion in animals under stress conditions and inflammatory modulation through adrenergic blocker and serotonin-reuptake inhibitors
• Grantee: Rayana Duarte Khoury
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate