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. 2011 May-Jun;19(3):260-8.
doi: 10.1590/s1678-77572011000300015.

Experimental alveolitis in rats: microbiological, acute phase response and histometric characterization of delayed alveolar healing

Moacyr Tadeu Vicente Rodrigues  1 , Camila Lopes Cardoso, Paulo Sérgio Perri de Carvalho, Tânia Mary Cestari, Magda Feres, Gustavo Pompermaier Garlet, Osny Ferreira Jr
Affiliations

Experimental alveolitis in rats: microbiological, acute phase response and histometric characterization of delayed alveolar healing

Moacyr Tadeu Vicente Rodrigues et al. J Appl Oral Sci. 2011 May-Jun.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of alveolitis is not well known and therefore experimental situations that mimic some features of this disease should be developed.

Objective: In this study, the evolution of the experimentally induced infection in rat sockets is characterized, which leads to clinical signs of suppurative alveolitis with remarkable wound healing disturbs.

Material and methods: Non-infected (Group I) and experimentally infected sockets in Rattus novergicus (Group II) were histometrically evaluated regarding the kinetics of alveolar healing. In addition, the characterization of the present bacteria in inoculation material and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were performed. The detected species were Capnocytophaga ochracea, Fusobacterium nucleatum ss nucleatum, Prevotella melaninogenica, Streptococcus anginosus, Treponema socranskii and Streptococcus sanguis.

Results: All experimentally infected rats developed suppurative alveolitis, showing higher levels of CRP in comparison to those non-infected ones. Furthermore, infected rats presented a significant delayed wound healing as measured by the histometric analysis (higher persistent polymorphonuclear infiltrate and lower density of newly formed bone).

Conclusion: These findings indicate that rat sockets with experimentally induced infection produced higher levels of serum CRP, showing the potential of disseminated infection and a disturb in the alveolar repair process in an interesting experimental model for alveolitis studies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental procedures for experimental alveolitis induction in rats. A) Luxation of right maxillary incisor; B) Extraction; C) Application of adrenaline solution 1:1,000 1 min; D) Inoculation of purulent secretion into the socket; E) Socket aspect after ischemia and contamination; F) Socket aspect after 3 days of contamination showing pus and gingival edema; G) Right maxilla specimen obtained to histological process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Increased serum CRP and delayed alveolar healing in experimental alveolitis rats. (A) CRP serum level results. (B to F) Histometric results: bone, connective tissue, inflammatory infiltrate, blood clot and empty space density, presented as means and standard deviations by group, in each period. Data were analyzed by groups using Student’s t test or Mann- Whitney Rank Sum Test and by periods using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test and Tukey’s or Dunn’s test for multiple comparisons.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Non-infected rats present normal alveolar wound healing. Histological longitudinal specimens of Group I: 6 days postoperative (A and B) showing blood clot (BC) and connective tissue (CT) filling the cervical portion of socket (A); and buccal cortical plate resorption (blue arrows) in (B); 15 days postoperative (C and D) showing rich vascularized connective tissue (CT), bone (asterisk) and blood clot (BC) in (C); new bone formation (asterisk), buccal cortical plate resorption (blue arrows) surrounded by connective tissue (CT) in (D); 28 days postoperative (E and F) displaying thick bone trabeculae (asterisk) and medular spaces surrounding the bone trabeculae. Hematoxylin-eosin
Figure 4
Figure 4
Experimentally induced alveolitis result in delayed alveolar healing. Histological longitudinal specimens of Group II: 6 days postoperative (A and B) showing inflammatory infiltrate with an exuberant presence of bacteria (II) surrounded by connective tissue (CT) occupying the cervical portion of socket (A); neutrophilic infiltrate predominant (red arrows), osteoclasts (blue arrows) resorbing buccal cortical plate in median portion of socket (B); 15 days postoperative (C and D) showing inflammatory infiltrate (II) and blood clot (BC) in (C); buccal cortical plate resorption (blue arrows) surrounded by connective tissue (CT) in (D); 28 days postoperative (E and F) displaying buccal cortical plate resorption (blue arrows), persistent inflammatory infiltrate and blood clot (BC) remains in median third of socket (E); modest bone trabeculae (asterisk) attached to apical cortical plate (C) in apical third of socket (F). Hematoxylin-eosin
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