Efeitos da doença periodontal na gestação e sua repercussão no microambiente uterino: papel do tratamento com terapia fotodinâmica

Abstract

Oral cavity pathogens appear to play an important role systemically, facilitating and /or modulating the development of many diseases. Periodontal disease (PD) is considered the most common localized and inflammatory dental disease caused by bacterial infection associated with dental plaque. PD is associated with several pathological conditions, such as inflammation of the gingiva (gingivitis), degeneration of the periodontal ligament, dental cementum and alveolar bone loss. Clinical evidence shows an association between maternal DP and adverse outcomes during pregnancy, especially preterm births and low birth weight. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of PD on the uterine microenvironment and on the offspring, as well as the role of photodynamic therapy (PDT). For this, we used Wistar rats submitted to PD induction by ligation in the lower molar teeth and posterior mating. On the 18th day of gestation the euthanasia was performed or the pups were expected to be borned. The treatment with PDT was performed 14 days after the establishment of PD. Our data showed that PD induced blood leukocytosis and elevated levels of IL-6 in the gingiva and the PDT treatment partially reversed such effects. We also observed that PD did not alter the levels of cytokines in the uterine microenvironment, but reduced the birth weight as well as weight gain until weaning. We did not observe changes in the number of pups borned and preterm birth. PDT reversed low birth weight and also partially increased weight gain until weaning. Thus, we conclude that PD altered the uterine microenvironment, impacting on the low birth weight of offspring. In addition, the treatment with PDT reversed this effect. Thus, studies aimed at investigating the systemic impact of PD, especially in the uterine microenvironment, are relevant and may provide subsidies to explain changes observed in offspring or during pregnancy.