Periodontitis and diabetes in pregnant rats: Maternal-fetal outcomes

To evaluate the repercussions of periodontitis and diabetes association on rat pregnancy and newborns.

Diabetes was induced in female Wistar rats 24 h after birth through the administration of Streptozotocin. The diabetic condition of the rats was further confirmed in adulthood. After mating, the pregnant rats were distributed into four experimental groups (n = 12 rats/group): nondiabetic and diabetic with and without periodontitis. Periodontitis was induced by a ligature inserted into the first molar on day 0 of pregnancy. Body weight, water and feed consumption were evaluated weekly, and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed on day 17 of pregnancy. On day 21 of pregnancy, the animals were anesthetized and killed for organ removal. The hemimandibles were collected to analyze alveolar bone loss. Immunological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in the maternal blood samples, and reproductive performance was analyzed. The newborns were weighed, and anomalies evaluated.

The group with diabetes and periodontitis had a greater degree of alveolar bone loss, along with higher relative pancreatic weight, blood glucose levels, triglyceride and inflammatory cytokine levels, hepatic transaminase activity, and embryonic losses. In addition, these newborns had increased body weight, placental weight, a greater number of ossification centers, and a higher rate of visceral and skeletal anomalies.

The combination of maternal diabetes and periodontitis negatively impacts maternal parameters and fetal development. The findings reinforce the importance of maintaining maternal oral health to ensure the general health of the offspring, especially in cases where diabetes is present.