Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Induction of Periodontitis via a Combination of Ligature and Lipopolysaccharide Injection in a Rat Model
Published on: February 17, 2023
Increased leukotriene concentration in submandibular glands from rats with experimental periodontitis
Lucila Busch1, Valeria Miozza, Leonor Sterin-Borda
1Pharmacology Unit, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. lucila@farmaco.odon.uba.ar
Objective And Design:
In the present study, we investigated the relation between the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, prostaglandins, and cysteinyl-leukotrienes with mucin release and the sympathetic system in submandibular glands from rats with experimental periodontitis.
Materials Or Subjects:
Submandibular glands from rats with experimental periodontitis.
Treatment:
For the first experiment, rats were treated with hydrocortisone sc, 1 mg/kg for 3 days. All other experiments were carried out in isolated submandibular glands from untreated rats. Submandibular glands were treated with cysteinyl-leukotrienes, isoproterenol, NDGA, FPL 55712, L-NMMA, Nio, Nz, AMG, indomethacin, DuP 697 and atenolol.
Methods:
Nitric oxide synthase activity, prostaglandin and cysteinyl-leukotriene productions and mucin secretion were determined. The Newman-Keuls statistical test was applied after analysis of variance.
Results:
In rats with periodontitis hydrocortisone-induced a 36.6% (P < 0.05) decrease in mucin release. Only cysteinyl-leukotriene production was increased in rats with ligature (79.2%, P < 0.001). Either the inhibition of cysteinyl-leukotriene production or the block of leukotriene receptor abolished the increase in mucin secretion by 25.6% (P < 0.05) and 37% (P < 0.01), respectively, in glands from rats with ligature. On the other hand, the presence of cysteinyl-leukotrienes in the incubation medium induced mucin release from submandibular glands. Atenolol diminished by 24% (P < 0.05), the increase in cysteinyl-leukotrienes observed in rats with periodontitis. Besides, isoproterenol induced cysteinyl-leukotriene production in both groups.
Conclusion:
In submandibular glands from rats with periodontitis, the increment in mucin release and cysteinyl-leukotrienes production are related events and both are associated with the sympathetic system.
