In part one of this report (Kato, 1996), it was suggested that insulin prevented experimental periodontitis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ rats).
This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the glycemic control on the periodontal destruction in germfree (GF) and STZ rats. Thirty-nine GF rats were divided into normal control rats (N-DM), STZ rats (DM), and insulin-treated STZ rats (DM -I). On Day 0, an elastic ring was applied to the right mandibular 1 st molar (experimental side). On Day 7, STZ (40mg/kg) was administered to the DM and DM-I groups to induce experimental diabetes. The rats were given daily intraperitoneal injections of either 0.9% NaCl (N-DM and DM), or 10 I. U. of insulin (DM-I) from Day 10 to Day 28. The periodontal condition was evaluated on Days 14 and 28. Blood glucose levels, the extent of inflammatory change, and quantitative measurement of the alveolar bone area were recorded.
Results obtained were as follows;
1. Insulin administration was effective in controlling hyperglycemia in GF STZ rats.
2. The blood glucose levels assessed by the glucose hexokinase method were 131±18 (mg/d
l) in the N-DM group, 506±89 (mg/d
l) in the DM group, and 109±40 (mg/d
l) in the DM-I group.
3. The elastic ring insertion induced attachment loss and alveolar bone resorption in GF rats:
4. Inflammatory change was severe in the DM group on Day 14. The inflammatory change in the N-DM and the DM-I groups on Day 14 were mild. On Day 28, there were no differences in the inflammatory changes among the three groups.
5. The alveolar bone area in the N-DM and DM -I groups was significantly larger than that in the DM group on Day 14.
Administration of insulin prevented periodontal destruction caused by mechanical stimulation in diabetic rats, even in the absence of oral microorganisms.
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