The effect of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis on periodontal bone loss

Title: The effect of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis on periodontal bone loss

Abstract:

This presentation will show the results of a study which aimed to evaluate the effects of osteoporosis induced by glucocorticoid (GIOP) on bone tissue of rats with experimental periodontitis (EP). For this, it was used male Wistar rats which were divided into groups: Naïve, EP, GIOP and GIOP + EP. The rats of GIOP and GIOP + EP groups received 7 mg/kg of dexamethasone intramuscularly once a week for 5 weeks. Following, EP and GIOP + EP groups were subjected to ligature-induced periodontitis. Naïve group experienced no manipulation. After 11 days, the animals were euthanized and left maxillae collected for macroscopic, radiographic, micro-tomographic and microscopic analysis of alveolar bone loss (ABL). Blood samples were collected for determination of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) levels and the right femurs were removed for radiographic and biomechanical analysis. On this study we observed that EP caused ABL and reduced BALP levels (p < 0,05), but it did not change the architecture or biomechanics of femur, compared to Naïve. GIOP did not cause ABL, but it significantly decreased alveolar bone mineral density (ABMD), bone percentage and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and increased alveolar bone porosity (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced BALP serum levels, as well as radiographic density and Young’s module of femur, compared to Naïve. There was a greater ABL in GIOP + EP group when compared to EP (p < 0.05). GIOP + EP caused a greater decrease on ABMD, Tb.Th, bone percentage and increased bone porosity (p < 0.05) and also presented a significant reduction in BALP levels (p < 0.05), in radiographic density and in Young’s module of femur compared to EP (p < 0.05). Therefore we can conclude GIOP can potentiate the destructive effects of EP on alveolar bone and alter the systemic bone loss, by promoting bone resorption and reducing osteoblast activity.

Biography:

Currently, Paula Goes is a full-time professor in the Departament of Pathology and Legal Medicine, from School of Medicine at Federal University of Ceará (UFC). She is advisor (Master’s and PhD degrees) in the Post-Graduate Program in Dentistry (Periodontology) and in the Post-Graduate Program in Morphofuncional Science at UFC. She coordinates several pre-clinical (in vitro and in animals) studies, with government funding, to investigate the effect of immunoinflammatory response on bone loss in order to suggest pharmacological approaches to prevent and treat periodontitis.