Relationship between apical periodontitis and atherosclerosis in rats: lipid profile and histological study

Author(s)

Conti, L. C. ^[1] ; Segura-Egea, J. J. ^[2] ; Cardoso, C. B. M. ^[1] ; Benetti, F. ^[3] ; Azuma, M. M. ^[4] ; Oliveira, P. H. C. ^[1] ; Bomfim, S. R. M. ^[5] ; Cintra, L. T. A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Sch Dent, Endodont Sect, Dept Prevent & Restorat Dent, Aracatuba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Seville, Endodont Sect, Dept Stomatol, Sch Dent, Seville - Spain

^[3] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Endodont Sect, Dept Restorat Dent, Sch Dent, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

^[4] Univ Michigan, Dept Cariol Restorat Sci & Endodont, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 - USA

^[5] Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Clin & Surg & Anim Reprod, Aracatuba Vet Med, UNESP, Aracatuba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: International Endodontic Journal; v. 53, n. 10 JUL 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Aim To investigate the relationship between apical periodontitis and atherosclerosis in rats by lipid profile and carotid artery intima tunic measurement, and histological and histometric evaluation of periapical lesions. Methodology Forty male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: control (C), with apical periodontitis (AP), with atherosclerosis (AT) and with AP and AT (AP + AT). Atherosclerosis was induced using a high-lipid diet associated with a surgical ligature in the carotid artery and a super dosage of vitamin D-3. AP was induced via pulp exposure to the oral environment. At 45 and 75 days, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured. The maxillary and mandibular jaws and carotid artery were collected and processed for histological analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney test was performed for nonparametric data, and the Tukey's or Student'st-test was performed for parametric data (P < 0.05). Results In nonatherosclerotic animals, the induction of apical periodontitis increased TG levels significantly, from 63.1 +/- 11.4 mg dL(-1)in group C to 88.2 +/- 7.9 mg dL(-1)in the AP group (P < 0.05). The induction of AP was associated with a trend for higher TC and LDL-C levels in atherosclerotic animals (P> 0.05); however, it only significantly increased TG levels, from 93.2 +/- 18.0 mg dL(-1)in AT group to 121.9 +/- 14.5 mg dL(-1)in the AP + AT group (P < 0.05). Animals in the AP + AT group had a 36.5% increase in the thickness of the carotid intima tunic when compared with the AT group (P < 0.05). The intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate was significantly larger in the AP + AT group when compared with AP group (P < 0.05). The AP + AT group exhibited significantly greater alveolar bone loss, with a periapical lesion size of 206.4 +/- 56.3 x 10(4)mu m(2), compared with 151.4 +/- 49.1 x 10(4)mu m(2)in the AP group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Apical periodontitis influenced triglyceride levels, increasing them even in the absence of atherosclerosis, and influenced the increase in the thickness of the carotid artery intima tunic in the presence of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis intensified the inflammatory reaction and increased bone resorption in periapical lesions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/08005-0 - The influence of endodontic infection levels of triglycerides and cholesterol rats Wistar patients with atherosclerosis
• Grantee: Carolina de Barros Morais Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation