Juliana dos Santos Neves

Immunolocalization of CSF-1, RANKL and OPG in the enamel-related periodontium of the rat incisor and their implications for alveolar bone remodeling

The enamel-related periodontium (ERP) in rat incisors is related to bone resorption. In these teeth the face of the socket related to the enamel is continuously removed at the inner side and newly formed at the outer side. CSF-1, RANKL and OPG are regulatory molecules essential for osteoclastogenesis. To verify the effects of impeded eruption on bone remodeling, the tooth eruption was prevented by immobilization of lower rat incisor and CSF-1, RANKL and OPG distribution in the ERP was analyzed after 18 days of immobilization and in normal eruption. The region of the alveolar crest of the rat incisor was used. Immunohistochemistry and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were performed. The immunostaining of the dental follicle was quantified using Leica QWin software. Positive-TRAP osteoclasts were counted, and both groups were compared. In the normal incisor, the number of osteoclasts was significantly greater than in the immobilized tooth. In the dental follicle, there was no significant difference in the immunostaining intensity for CSF-1 and OPG between the groups (p > 0.05), but for RANKL the immobilized incisor group showed immunostaining intensity smaller than the normal incisor group (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that changes in the ERP, in the immobilized incisor, modify the RANKL/OPG ratio, in the presence of CSF-1, altering the metabolism of cells that participate in the bone remodeling.

Influence of different decalcifying agents on EGF and EGFR immunostaining

This study was designed to verify the influence of three demineralizing agents on EGF and EGFR immunostaining as well as on tissue morphology. We chose submandibular glands that are a source of EGF and its receptor and which could be analyzed using a control in which the decalcification step was not carried out. After sacrifice of adult male Wistar rats by perfusion fixation, the submandibular glands and mandibles were excised and placed together in each of the following solutions: (a) 5% nitric acid in 4% formaldehyde; (b) 4.13% EDTA pH 7.4; (c) 5% trichloroacetic acid. Mandibles served as a parameter for decalcification time in each demineralizing solution. A control group was performed with submandibular glands that were not placed in any demineralizing solution. After mandibles were completely decalcified, glands were processed by embedding in Paraplast® and immunohistochemical staining was made to detect EGF and EGFR. It was observed that decalcification did not produce noticeable differences in terms of EGF and EGFR immunoreactivity, but had an effect on the quality of the morphology and staining. Our results indicate there is no problem performing immunostaining of EGF and EGFR in tissues that require decalcification. 4.13% EDTA (pH 7.4) is the best choice for decalcification in cases that are not urgent.

Doxycycline reduces the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in the periodontal ligament of the rat incisor without altering the eruption process

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Doxycycline is an antibiotic agent that inhibits the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) present in the extracellular matrix. In this study, the rat incisor was submitted to a hypofunctional condition, and the effects of doxycycline (80 mg/kg/d) on the expression and activity of MMP-2, as well as on eruption rate, were determined in the odontogenic region and in the periodontal ligament for 14 d. MATERIAL AND METHODS Rats were distributed into four groups: normofunctional (NF); doxycyline normofunctional (DNF); hypofunctional (HP); and doxycyline hypofunctional (DHP). The left lower incisors of 10 rats were shortened every 2 d, using a high-rotation drill, to produce the HP and DHP groups, after starting doxycycline treatment (80 mg/kg) by gavage. Eruption was measured using a millimeter ocular, from the gingival margin to the top of the tooth in the HP and DHP groups, and also by a mark made in the tooth previously, in the NF and DNF groups. The hemimandibles were removed and the teeth were extracted to collect the periodontal and odontogenic tissues for immunohistochemical analyses and zymography. RESULTS The eruption rates were higher in the HP and the DHP groups than in the NF and DNF groups, respectively (p < 0.05). In the odontogenic region, neither of the treatments changed the expression and activity of MMP-2. In the HP group, the shortening treatment decreased the expression, but not the activity, of MMP-2, while doxycycline was able to inhibit the increase of expression and activity of MMP-2. CONCLUSION We conclude that the inhibition of MMP-2 by doxycycline, during incisor shortening, was not enough to alter the eruption rate, which suggests that MMP-2 may have an important role in the turnover of extracellular matrix of the periodontal ligament during the tooth-eruption process.

Evaluation of the osteogenic potential of Hancornia speciosa latex in rat calvaria and its phytochemical profile.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Hancornia speciosa Gomes, commonly known as Mangabeira, is a Brazilian native fruit tree belonging to the Apocynaceae family. In folk medicine, the latex obtained from Mangabeiras trunk has been used as an adjunct therapy for bone fractures. Few pharmacological studies on the Hancornia speciosa latex have been developed and despite its popular use for bone healing there is no data about its biological effect on bone. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study aimed to investigate the osteogenic potential of Hancornia speciosa latex in rat calvaria, as well as its phytochemical profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS A neutral gel composition containing 5% latex was topical applied to a critical size bone defect and over intact calvaria of rats. Areas of newly formed bone on the borders of the defect and of calvaria periosteum were quantified, as well as the percentage of BrdU-positive cells and total cells in the periosteum at different periods of time after latex application. The cytotoxicity of the latex aqueous phase was evaluated in rat calvarial cells in vitro by MTT assay and its phytochemical profile was investigated by ESI-MS/MS. RESULTS The area of newly formed bone on the borders of the calvaria defect was larger in rats that received latex at 15 and 30 days of healing. After 3 days of latex application over the intact calvaria, the periosteum area was increased and newly formed bone was observed after 5 and 11 days. There was also an increase in periosteum cell proliferation and population followed latex application on calvaria (p<0.05). The latex aqueous phase limited rat calvarial cell viability in vitro in concentrations larger than 0.6mg/mL. Chlorogenic acid and naringenin-7-O-glucoside were identified in the latex aqueous phase, along with catechin and procyanidin compounds. CONCLUSION There was a stimulus for periosteum cell proliferation and bone formation when Hancornia speciosa latex was topically applied on rat calvaria. In addition, chlorogenic acid and naringenin-7-O-glucoside present in Hancornia speciosa latex may contribute to its effects on bone formation.

Muscle pain induced by static contraction in rats is modulated by peripheral inflammatory mechanisms

Muscle pain is an important health issue and frequently related to static force exertion. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether peripheral inflammatory mechanisms are involved with static contraction-induced muscle pain in rats. To this end, we developed a model of muscle pain induced by static contraction performed by applying electrical pulses through electrodes inserted into muscle. We also evaluated the involvement of neutrophil migration, bradykinin, sympathetic amines and prostanoids. A single session of sustained static contraction of gastrocnemius muscle induced acute mechanical muscle hyperalgesia without affecting locomotor activity and with no evidence of structural damage in muscle tissue. Static contraction increased levels of creatine kinase but not lactate dehydrogenase, and induced neutrophil migration. Dexamethasone (glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory agent), DALBK (bradykinin B1 antagonist), Atenolol (β1 adrenoceptor antagonist), ICI 118,551 (β2 adrenoceptor antagonist), indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), and fucoidan (non-specific selectin inhibitor) all reduced static contraction-induced muscle hyperalgesia; however, the bradykinin B2 antagonist, bradyzide, did not have an effect on static contraction-induced muscle hyperalgesia. Furthermore, an increased hyperalgesic response was observed when the selective bradykinin B1 agonist des-Arg9-bradykinin was injected into the previously stimulated muscle. Together, these findings demonstrate that static contraction induced mechanical muscle hyperalgesia in gastrocnemius muscle of rats is modulated through peripheral inflammatory mechanisms that are dependent on neutrophil migration, bradykinin, sympathetic amines and prostanoids. Considering the clinical relevance of muscle pain, we propose the present model of static contraction-induced mechanical muscle hyperalgesia as a useful tool for the study of mechanisms underlying static contraction-induced muscle pain.