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Postnatal Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Periodontitis in Wistar Rat Pups
Camila Salvador Sestario1,2, Eduardo Inocente Jussiani3, Avacir Casanova Andrello3
1Laboratory of Developmental Toxicology, Department of Biology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Insights
Maternal periodontitis in rats led to offspring with delayed physical development, impaired motor skills, and reduced maxillary bone quality. This highlights potential risks of gum disease during pregnancy for infant development.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Oral Health Research
Background:
- Pregnancy periodontitis is linked to adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth and low birth weight.
- This study investigates the impact of experimentally induced periodontitis in pregnant rats on offspring development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of maternal periodontitis on the physical, motor, and craniofacial development of rat pups.
- To assess the impact on dental and maxillary bone development in offspring exposed to periodontitis in utero.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into control and periodontitis groups.
- Periodontitis was induced before mating; offspring were monitored for 30 days for physical and reflexological development.
- Maxillary first molars and alveolar bone were analyzed using X-ray microtomography and histopathology.
Main Results:
- Offspring from the periodontitis group exhibited lower birth weight, reduced body length, and delayed hair growth and incisor eruption.
- Motor development, including postural straightening, gait, and negative geotaxis, was significantly delayed in offspring exposed to maternal periodontitis.
- While first molars showed no anomalies, offspring from the periodontitis group had decreased maxillary bone trabecular number and increased inter-trabecular distance.
Conclusions:
- Maternal periodontitis negatively impacts offspring physical and reflexological development.
- The study demonstrates impaired maxillary bone quality in offspring due to prenatal exposure to periodontitis.
- These findings underscore the importance of maternal oral health for healthy fetal and infant development.
Background:
Periodontitis during pregnancy is associated with preterm births and low birth weight. This study evaluated how experimental periodontitis induced in female rats impacts the physical development, motor skills, and dental and maxillary development of their pups.
Method:
Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into the control group (C, n = 12) and the induced periodontal disease group (P, n = 12). Periodontitis was induced in the first maxillary molars 14 days before mating. Delivery occurred on the 21st day of gestation, and four offspring from each litter were evaluated (n = 48) for 30 days to verify physical and reflexological development. The first molars and alveolar bone were evaluated in 30-day-old animals using X-ray microtomography and histopathological analysis. Differences between groups were considered significant if p < 0.05.
Results:
The P group had a lower number of live offspring (9.4 ± 1.9 pups) than the C group (11.4 ± 2.1, p = 0.03). The P offspring group showed lower weight (F = 1.17; p < 0.0001) and length (F = 3.47; p < 0.0001), as well as delayed hair growth (p = 0.01) and eruption of incisors (p = 0.001). The P offspring presented a delay in the motor development of postural straightening (p = 0.01), adult gait (p = 0.01), and negative geotaxis (p = 0.01). No developmental anomalies were observed in the maxillary first molars; however, the P group showed a decreased number (p = 0.02) and increased distance (p = 0.007) between the maxillary bone trabeculae.
Conclusions:
Periodontitis delayed physical and reflexological development and impaired maxillary bone quality in offspring.
