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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Induction of Periodontitis via a Combination of Ligature and Lipopolysaccharide Injection in a Rat Model
Published on: February 17, 2023
Exercise attenuates alveolar bone loss and anxiety-like behaviour in rats with periodontitis
Eric F Andrade1, Débora R Orlando2, Júlia A S Gomes3
1Department of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil.
Aim:
To evaluate the effects of physical training on inflammatory and behavioural parameters of Wistar rats with periodontal disease (PD).
Materials And Methods:
Twenty four animals were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial design (with and without exercise, with and without PD). Trained animals swimmed one hour daily during 8 weeks. PD was induced by ligature 14 days before the end of experiment, and in the last week, all animals were submitted to the Marble Burying Test. Histomorphometric analyses of the mandibles and expression of cytokines were conducted by Western blotting. We also evaluated the morphometry of hippocampal astrocytes using anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody.
Results:
Physical training attenuated bone loss and epithelial attachment loss levels of rats with PD. Trained animals with PD presented lower TNF-α expression in periodontal tissues while IL-10 was increased. TNF-α/IL-10 ratio was lower in trained animals with PD compared to those with induced periodontitis. PD increased anxiety-like behaviour, and physical training attenuated this parameter. Exercise increased the ramifications of hippocampal astrocytes in rats without PD.
Conclusions:
Exercise decreased anxiety behaviour, inflammatory proteins expression and bone loss in rats with PD.
