IADR Abstract Archives
Impact of Maternal Porphyromonas Gingivalis Infection on Brain of Offspring
Objectives: Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), a major periodontal pathogen, can cause intrauterine infection and inflammation. Fetuses exposed to intrauterine infection and inflammation are known to develop neurological disorders, regardless of the gestational period. However, the correlation between maternal periodontitis and functional or histological changes in the child's brain is not clear.The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of maternal P.g. odontogenic infection on the behavior and brain tissue of offspring.
Methods: C57BL/6J female mice were divided into 2 groups with or without P.g. odontogenic infection. After 6weeks from P.g. infection, mating was started. Mice born from P.g. infected and non-infected mother mice were named P.g. and Cont group, respectively and evaluated on 45 days after birth.
Results: A step-through passive avoidance test showed that the latency time of acquisition trials in P.g. group was shorter (P < 0.05) than Cont group. P.g. diffusely distributed in whole brain tissue, especially in hippocampus area. In the hippocampus of P.g. group, number of pyramidal cells and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) positive cells was reduced. Moreover, increase of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive reactive astrocytes (P <0.05) associated with IL-6 mRNA upregulation were observed. In amygdala of P.g. group, number of pyramidal cells and CREB positive cells was also decreased (P <0.01), whereas in cortex, ionized calcium binding adapter protein1(Iba-1) positive activated microglial cells were increased (P <0.01).
Conclusions: These results indicated that offspring born from P.g.-odontogenic infected mothers had reduced cognitive function. Moreover, it is suggested that neurodegeneration in the hippocampus and neuroinflammation in the cortex may be caused by P.g., which invade into the offspring’s brain from mother side. Treatment of periodontitis in mothers before and during gestation may be necessary to maintain healthy brain function in their offspring.
Methods: C57BL/6J female mice were divided into 2 groups with or without P.g. odontogenic infection. After 6weeks from P.g. infection, mating was started. Mice born from P.g. infected and non-infected mother mice were named P.g. and Cont group, respectively and evaluated on 45 days after birth.
Results: A step-through passive avoidance test showed that the latency time of acquisition trials in P.g. group was shorter (P < 0.05) than Cont group. P.g. diffusely distributed in whole brain tissue, especially in hippocampus area. In the hippocampus of P.g. group, number of pyramidal cells and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) positive cells was reduced. Moreover, increase of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive reactive astrocytes (P <0.05) associated with IL-6 mRNA upregulation were observed. In amygdala of P.g. group, number of pyramidal cells and CREB positive cells was also decreased (P <0.01), whereas in cortex, ionized calcium binding adapter protein1(Iba-1) positive activated microglial cells were increased (P <0.01).
Conclusions: These results indicated that offspring born from P.g.-odontogenic infected mothers had reduced cognitive function. Moreover, it is suggested that neurodegeneration in the hippocampus and neuroinflammation in the cortex may be caused by P.g., which invade into the offspring’s brain from mother side. Treatment of periodontitis in mothers before and during gestation may be necessary to maintain healthy brain function in their offspring.