RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY IN JAW AND TIBIA OF NOD MICE AFFECTED WITH SJÖGREN SYNDROME .

The NOD (non-obese diabetic) mice model for experimental diabetes, concomitantly produces alterations in the submandibular and lacrimal glands. The animals develop a Histopathological condition, equivalent to the Sjögren Syndrome (SS ) found in humans. So far, in the literature no data were found about bone disorders related to SS. OBJECTIVE: To perform a radiographic evaluation of the jaws and tibias of NOD mice affected with SS, compared with NOD mice without SS. MATERIAL AND METHOD: NOD female mice with SS and controls (NOD without SS) were used for this study. The animals were kept in specific laboratory conditions in the biotery at Chemistry Faculty of the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. At 4 months of age, (weight 80 g ± 10 g), animals were sacrificed and both tibias and jaw, were removed. High resolution radiographs were taken with a Mammomat Inspiration, Siemmens® direct digital equipment. Four areas were measured in the tibias (trabecular and cortical bone in epiphysis and diaphysis), and two (trabecular and cortical bone) in the interradicular septum of the first lower molar, in the jaws. A comparative study was carried out to assess the difference in radiopacity of each zone using an image analysis program Radiant DICOM. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA test. RESULTS: A significant decrease in radiopacity of epiphyseal cortical bone (p < 0.002), and diaphyseal, cortical and trabecular bone (p < 0.001) was observed. No statistical differences were found in either the trabecular bone of the tibial epiphysis or in all mandibular areas. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SS NOD mice may develop bone disorders in the tibia but no in the jaw.