Apoptosis in Alveolar Bone Crest: Influence of Ovariectomy and Alcoholism

Studies suggest that chronic alcoholism as well as estrogenic deficiencies may affect bones in general, including alveolar bone and, by doing so, increase individuals' susceptibility to the development of periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to assess possible influence of chronic alcoholism and/or estrogenic deficiencies in the apoptosis of bone cells of the alveolar bone crest region in rats.

Method:

Initially, 54 female rats were divided into two groups: ovariectomized (Ovx), and Sham operated (Sham). A month after surgery, these two groups were sub-divided, and received, for 8 weeks, the following dietary intervention: (a) alcohol at 20%, (b) isocaloric diet and (c) ad-libitum diet (free diet). Histological sections were made in alveolar mandibular bone crest region, between the first and second molars and extended in silanized slides. Analysis was undertaken by immunohistochemistry, using an antibody to detect apoptosis (anti PARP p-85). The data obtained were examined by the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test. All statistical comparisons were made using a significance level of 5%.

Result:

When comparing the six experimental groups (Sham/ad-libitum, Ovx/ad-libitum, Sham/alcohol, Ovx/alcohol, Sham/isocaloric and Ovx/isocaloric), no significant differences were observed in the apoptosis of bone cells (osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts). Also there were no significant differences in the quantification of such marking cells when the animals from Ovx groups were compared with those from Sham groups. However, when comparing only different dietary groups, differences were observed between the groups ad-libitum and isocaloric, to osteoblasts (p=0.045); and ad-libitum and alcohol, to osteocytes (p=0.007).

Conclusion:

It is concluded that ovariectomy was not able to influence the rate of apoptosis of bone cells in alveolar bone crest and that a possible influence of diet on apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes cannot be ruled out. Support for research: FAPESP. Process number: 2009/50213-5