Studies of a periodontal tissue lesion in the rat, untreated or treated with chlorhexidine digluconate

The studies currently reported formed part of an enquiry whose overall objective was to identify a suitable animal model upon which initial screening of compounds and formulations with prophylactic and/or therapeutic potential in periodontitis could be carried out. An earlier study (Rovin et al. 1966) reported that periodontal inflammation could be produced in the conventional laboratory rat by application of a ligature to the molar teeth. The present paper describes the pathological and histo-pathological changes in the periodontium following application of ligatures to the molar teeth of young rats, and the tissue responses observed after topical application of chlorhexidine digluconate. Plaque formed rapidly and an acute periodontitis was induced; application of increasing concentrations of chlorhexidine digluconate gave a progressive diminution in the severity of the lesions. The major bacterial components of the plaque were actinomycetes and streptococci.