Abstract

SEGUNDO, Alex Semenoff et al. Effect of chronic cortisone use in rats strain susceptible to ligature-induced periodontitis. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2013, vol.61, n.2, pp. 163-167. ISSN 1981-8637.

Objective The present study assessed the effect of prolonged betamethasone use in ligature-induced periodontitis in adult Fischer-344 rats. Methods Thirty-six Fisher rats were randomly assigned to three groups: group B (betamethasone); group S (sham) and group C (control). The animals in group B were given intramuscular betamethasone daily, those in group S were given saline injections daily, and those in group C were not submitted to any intervention. The interventions lasted 60 days, and all groups were submitted to the same environmental conditions. Ten days after starting the injections, periodontal disease was induced in the animals from groups B and S by tying a sterile silk suture thread around the upper right second molar. Fifty days later, all animals were sacrificed and the connective tissue attachment level (Jac-E) and bone loss (Jac-O) were measured. Results Jac-E and Jac-O of groups B and S were not significantly different, but they differed significantly from those of group C. Conclusion Prolonged use of betamethasone did not affect the progression of induced periodontitis in rats.

Keywords : Betamethasone.; Periodontitis.; Rats; Inbred F344..