Effect of the testosterone levels reduction on the immunoinflammatory response associated with periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis induction in orchiectomized adult male rats

Abstract

It is suggested that the decrease or suppression of the production of sexual hormones induce alterations of metabolism and consequently several kinds of disease, such as the chronic inflammatory diseases. In spite of the contradictory results of various studies, low testosterone (T) levels, which are the main androgens, are suggested to be related with the initiation or progression of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, dislypidemia, and a greater possibility to lose mineral bone density, and consequently osteopenia and osteoporosis. The hypothesis of the present project is that T influences the inflammatory responses as well as bone metabolism e.g. periodontal disease and reumathoid arthritis. Therefore, the aim of the present project will be to evaluate the influence of T decrease (orchiectomy) on periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis. 120 rats will be randomly distributed into 4 groups (n=30) and submitted to orchiectomy (OQX), OQX+ treatment with T, OQX+T+ treatment with androgen receptor blocker (BRA) and a sham group. Four months after OQX, each group will be sub-divided into 3 more groups (n=10), one being used as a control while the others will be subjected to experimental periodontitis or rheumatoid arthritis. After 15 days, the rats will be sacrificed. Within the proper indications, periodontal tissues and knees will be evaluated using computadorized microtomography (µct), while the inflammatory process and cell apoptosis will be evaluated using microscope analysis (H&E, Masson Tricromic and immunofluorescence). Osteoclastogenesis will be evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. (AU)