A histomorphometric study of osteocytic lacunae in interradicular bone with periodontal disease

Previous studies report on the differences in volume of osteocytic lacunae that are associated to different local and systemic bone pathologies. Alterations have also been reported in rats with periodontal disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the histomorphometric pattern of osteocytic lacunae of the interradicular septum in human molars with periodontal disease (PD). We took samples of the interradicular septum of 31 molars with indication of extraction of male and female patients, 18-55 years old, who attend the Department of Surgery II of the Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Cordoba and private centers. Clinical records were prepared for each patient. The corresponding radiographs were taken for all the patients. We studied 11 samples of molars with slight PD and 12 control molars free from PD. Ten samples of healthy bone corticals of vestibular or lingual tables obtained from histopathology archives were also assessed. Following extraction with atraumatic pincers, the interradicular septum was removed. The samples were fixed in buffered formaline, decalcified in EDTA and embedded in paraffin. Ten micrometer sections were stained with H&E and Masson's trichromic technique. The sections were analyzed by light microscopy. A minimum of 50 lacunae were selected at random in each sample for histomorphometric evaluation. Semi-automatic evaluation of the area and diameters of the lacunae was performed employing an image analyzer and the PRO IMAGE PLUS software. The data showed that the volume of osteocytic lacunae of interradicular bone is larger than that of the cortical bone of the vestibular or lingual tables. The latter are more ribbon-shaped and their minor diameter is smaller. No differences were found between the osteocytic lacunae of the interradicular bone of healthy molars and that of molars with slight periodontal disease. Given that the experimental data evidenced volume changes in osteocytic lacunae of severe, inflammatory periodontal lesions, it would be interesting to examine the volume changes in osteocytic lacunae in patients with varying degrees of periodontal disease to examine the role of osteocytes in the development and progression of periodontal disease.