Periodontics
Braz Oral Res., (São Paulo) 2012 Nov-Dec;26(6):571-7
571
Carolina Barrera de Azambuja
Juliano Cavagni
Marcius Comparsi Wagner
Eduardo José Gaio
Cassiano Kuchenbecker Rösing
Department of Periodontology, School of
Dentistry, Univ Federal do Rio Grande do
Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Periodontics
Corresponding Author:
Juliano Cavagni
E-mail: jcavagni@hotmail.com
Correlation analysis of alveolar bone
loss in buccal/palatal and proximal
surfaces in rats
Abstract: The aim was to correlate alveolar bone loss in the buccal/pala-
tal and the mesial/distal surfaces of upper molars in rats. Thirty-three,
60-day-old, male Wistar rats were divided in two groups, one treated
with alcohol and the other not treated with alcohol. All rats received silk
ligatures on the right upper second molars for 4 weeks. The rats were
then euthanized and their maxillae were split and deeshed with sodium
hypochlorite (9%). The cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) was stained with
1% methylene blue and the alveolar bone loss in the buccal/palatal sur-
faces was measured linearly in 5 points on standardized digital photo-
graphs. Measurement of the proximal sites was performed by sectioning
the hemimaxillae, restaining the CEJ and measuring the alveolar bone
loss linearly in 3 points. A calibrated and blinded examiner performed
all the measurements. Intraclass Correlation Coefcient revealed values
of 0.96 and 0.89 for buccal/lingual and proximal surfaces, respectively.
The Pearson Correlation Coefcient (r) between measurements in buccal/
palatal and proximal surfaces was 0.35 and 0.05 for the group treated
with alcohol, with and without ligatures, respectively. The best corre-
lations between buccal/palatal and proximal surfaces were observed in
animals not treated with alcohol, in sites both with and without liga-
tures (r=0.59 and 0.65, respectively). A positive correlation was found
between alveolar bone loss in buccal/palatal and proximal surfaces. The
correlation is stronger in animals that were not treated with alcohol, in
sites without ligatures. Areas with and without ligature-induced peri-
odontal destruction allow detection of alveolar bone loss in buccal/pala-
tal and proximal surfaces.
Descriptors: Alveolar Bone Loss; Animals; Periodontitis.
Introduction
Periodontitis is a disease characterized by periodontal tissue destruc-
tion caused by the host response against bacteria and their toxins. The
absence of treatment can lead to the loss of the tooth affected by the
disease.
1
In the study of the pathogenesis of periodontitis, there are strong limi-
tations in the use of models involving humans for logistic and ethical rea-
sons. Because of these limitations, animal models have been widely used
in literature. Among the experimental models for destructive periodontal
disease study, monkeys, dogs and small animals have been used. Rats
Declaration of Interests: The authors
certify that they have no commercial or
associative interest that represents a conflict
of interest in connection with the manuscript.
Submitted: May 08, 2012
Accepted for publication: Sep 06, 2012
Last revision: Sep 25, 2012