Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
Induction of Periodontitis via a Combination of Ligature and Lipopolysaccharide Injection in a Rat Model
Published on: February 17, 2023
Effects of boric acid on experimental periodontitis and alveolar bone loss in rats
Serhat Demirer1, M Isa Kara, Kamile Erciyas
1Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
Objective:
The goal of the present study was to evaluate the histopathologic and morphometric effects of systemic boric acid in a rat periodontitis model.
Design:
Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into three groups of eight animals each: non-ligated (NL), ligature only (LO), and ligature and treated with boric acid (BA) (3mg/kg per day for 11 days). A 4/0 silk suture was placed in a subgingival position around the mandibular first molars; after 11 days the rats were sacrificed, and changes in alveolar bone levels were measured clinically and tissues were histopathologically examined to assess the differences amongst the study groups.
Results:
The ratio of presence of inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI) and osteoclast number in the LO group was significantly higher than that of the NL and BA groups (p<0.05). The ratio of presence of osteoblastic activity in the LO group was significantly lower than that of the NL and BA groups (p<0.05). Alveolar bone loss was also significantly higher in the LO group compared to the BA and NL groups (p<005).
Conclusions:
This study has demonstrated that systemic administration of boric acid reduced periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss in periodontal disease in rats.
