ラット根尖病変に及ぼすオフロキサシン眼軟膏の影響

抄録

Abstract : The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of ofloxacin (OFLX), a new quinolone antibacterial agent, on rat periapical lesions, and to examine the behavior of cells expressing transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 during the healing process of periapical lesions. After applying OFLX to experimentally induced periapical lesions, a significant increase followed by a drastic decrease in cells expressing TGF-β1 and considerable bone formation was seen around the root apex. Additionally, a part of the cells expressing TGF-β1 seemed to be macrophages. On the other hand, topical application of physiological saline resulted in only few cells expressing TGF-β1. However, lost bone tissues within the vicinity of the root apex did not recover well despite there being numerous osteoblasts on the bone surfaces. In addition, expression of IL-1α was considerably decreased in ofloxacin-treated rats, whereas numerous IL-1α-expressing macrophages remained in the lesions of physiological saline-treated rats. These results suggest that the time and extent of TGF-β1 expression may influence the course of healing, and that a transient increase of cells expressing TGF-β1 may play an important role in the activation of new bone formation during the healing process of apical periodontitis. The present study suggests that OFLX may shorten the healing process of periapical lesions, and may be therapeutically useful for acute alveolar abscesses to which it is difficult to apply irritant intracanal medicaments.