Development of liver disease caused by chronic periodontitis in rats

Authors

  • Karen Neisman Rodriguez Ayala Universidade Federal do Piauí. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia
  • Vinícius da Silva Caetano Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6310-8495
  • Any Carolina Cardoso Guimarães Vasconcelos Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis)
  • Maria Vitoria Pereira de Sousa Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis)
  • Nikaely Brandão Barbosa Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis)
  • Luanna Maria Soares Mesquita Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis)
  • Paulo Roberto Carneiro Gomes Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis)
  • André Luis dos Reis Barbosa Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis).
  • Hélio Mateus Silva Nascimento Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Laboratório de Análise e Processamento Histológico (LAPHis) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1551-8139
  • Daniel Fernando Pereira Vasconcelos Universidade Federal do Piauí. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/

Keywords:

Fatty liver, Histopathology, Periodontal disease, Oxidative stress, Steatosis

Abstract

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by producing alterations in periodontal tissues, but it has been associated with the manifestation of systemic alterations, related to those produced in liver tissue. This study aims to evaluate the progression of liver damage caused by ligation-induced periodontitis in rats with time intervals of ten to 80 days. Methodology  Overall, 40 rats were divided into five groups: control (no ligatures), P10, P20, P40, and P80 (teeth with ligatures at intervals of ten, 20, 40, and 80 days) in which we verified liver disease caused by periodontitis. Oral parameters were evaluated: gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing pocket depth (PPD), dental mobility (TM), myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), alveolar bone height (ABH). Liver parameters were evaluated: liver weight, histopathological scores for steatosis, inflammation, and necrosis in the liver; glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Serum parameters were also evaluated: concentrations in liver tissues, blood levels of albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose, total cholesterol, and total proteins.

Results  The results showed that the hepatic steatosis score gradually increased (P<0.05) in rats with induced periodontitis for up to 20 days (P20); and the rats with ligatures for 40 (P40) and 80 days (P80) had stable scores compared to the P20, without any further worsening, similarly occurred with GSH, MDA, and total cholesterol.

Conclusions  This study indicated that liver alterations caused by ligature-induced periodontitis are progressive in early stages (0-20 days) and reach a plateau in later stages (40-80 days).

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Published

2025-11-18

Issue

Vol. 33 (2025)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Karen Neisman Rodriguez Ayala, Vinícius da Silva Caetano, Any Carolina Cardoso Guimarães Vasconcelos, Maria Vitoria Pereira de Sousa, Nikaely Brandão Barbosa, Luanna Maria Soares Mesquita, Paulo Roberto Carneiro Gomes, André Luis dos Reis Barbosa, Hélio Mateus Silva Nascimento , Daniel Fernando Pereira Vasconcelos

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How to Cite

Rodriguez Ayala, K. N., Caetano, V. da S., Vasconcelos, A. C. C. G., Sousa, M. V. P. de, Barbosa, N. B., Mesquita, L. M. S., Gomes, P. R. C., Barbosa, A. L. dos R., Nascimento , H. M. S., & Vasconcelos, D. F. P. (2025). Development of liver disease caused by chronic periodontitis in rats. Journal of Applied Oral Science, 33, e20250550. https://doi.org/10.1590/