Abstract
Introduction
Periodontitis is an infectious-inflammatory disease resulting from microbial dysbiosis and host response that leads to the destruction of tooth support tissues, including periodontal collagen fibers, which may culminate in tooth loss.
Objective
To evaluate the behavior of periodontal collagen fibers during the progression of induced experimental periodontitis in rats.
Material and method
Twelve Wistar rats were distributed into groups: Control (C), 14-days Experimental Periodontitis (PE-14d), 21-days Experimental Periodontitis (PE-21d) and 42-days Experimental Periodontitis (PE-42d). At day 0, the animals of group C were euthanized. At the same day, the remaining animals were submitted to the installation of a cotton ligature around the lower left first molar for the induction of experimental periodontitis. The animals were euthanized at 14 (PE-14d), 21 (PE-21d) and 42 (PE-42d) days after the installation of ligature. Histological processing of the hemi-mandibles was performed and the sections underwent histochemical reaction using picro-sirius red. The descriptive qualitative analysis was performed under polarized light microscopy, in the dental furcation region, evidencing the fibers of the periodontal ligament.
Result
Group C exhibited thick and oriented bundles of mature collagen fibers, consistent with a normal appearance. The groups with experimental periodontitis exhibited severe tissue disruption, with immature and thinner collagen fibers, with such conditions being more exacerbated in the PE-14d and PE-21d groups.
Conclusion
The early stages of periodontitis present acute response, and therefore result in rapid destruction of periodontal support tissues and potentially impair fibrillogenesis and collagen restructuring in the periodontal ligament.
Descriptors:
Collagen; periodontitis; periodontium
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