Evaluation of the presence and stimulation of sympathetic nervous system in the periodontium

Abstract

In recent decades, an association between stress and periodontal disease has been observed. The literature suggests that stress aggravates periodontal disease by activation of different pathways, one of them being stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) with catecholamines release. The SNS has an influence on several factors associated with the pathogenesis of periodontal disease as the inflammatory host response, the periodontal resident cells and periodontopathogenic bacteria. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of SNS fibers and norepinephrine transporters (NET) on periodontium and the influence of the SNS in the stimulation of periodontal vasculogenesis. Genetically modified mice labeled by the fluorescent protein eGFP in the SNS fibers will be used to describe the presence of these fibers in the periodontal tissues around the lower first molar region. Isoproterenol (ISO-²-adrenergic agonist) will also be administered to wild-type mice as surrogate of sympathetic activation to determine impact on angiogeneses in periodontal tissues, which will be assessed by histomorphometry, immunofluorescence (IF) and gene expression analyses. The presence of NET in the alveolar bone will be investigated by IF as well. The data will be submitted to appropriate statistical analysis.