1992 Volume 34 Issue 1 Pages 114-124
The present study was designed to histologically and histometrically assess the relationship between non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and experimental periodontitis. Ten spontanous NIDDM rats (GK) (Group 1) and ten JCL-Wistar rats (Group 2) were utilized for this study. On the control side (the left side of the maxilla), no treatment was performed. On the experimental side (the right side of the maxilla), a nylon thread was inserted into the interdental space between the right maxillary 1st and 2nd molars to induce gingival inflammation. Five rats from each group were sacrificed at 6 and 8 weeks respectively after insertion of the nylon threads. A glucose tolerance test was performed at 5 weeks. The interproximal periodontal tissues between the maxillary 1st and 2 nd molars were examined histologically. Furthermore, in the histological sections of all animals, the ratio of the alveolar bone height to the mean length of the maxillary 1st and 2nd molars was calculated using 5 serial histological sections of each maxilla. The average ratio was determined for each maxilla, and the average values (mean±standard deviation) of both sides were calculated.
Results obtained were as follows:
1. Experimental periodontitis was produced in all animals following insertion of the nylon thread.
2. The blood glucose values from glucose tolerance tests were consistently higher in Group 1 than in Group 2.
3. On the control sides of both groups, no histological changes were observed at either 6 or 8 weeks.
4. On the experimental sides of both groups, mild inflammatory changes were observed at 6 and 8 weeks, but no histological differences were observed in either group.
5. On the control sides of both groups, no histological loss of alveolar bone was found at neither 6 nor 8 weeks.
6. On the experimental sides of both groups, alveolar bone loss at 8 weeks was more severe than at 6 weeks. But no significant histometrical differences were found between the two groups.
