ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus (DM) as a chronic disease has multiple effects upon both general and oral health. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of DM in pregnant rats on root formation of their offspring.
METHODOLOGY: This investigation was carried out on forty-two Albino rats. Rats were divided into two groups(n=21): group C (control): offspring to mothers injected by intraperitoneal single dose of 1ml Citrate buffer, group E (diabetic): offspring born to mothers rendered diabetic through single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (40mg/kg body weight) dissolved in 1ml Citrate buffer. Their offspring were sacrificed one, two and four weeks after birth (E1, E2 and E3 subgroups respectively). The lower jaws of the offspring were excised and processed for histological and immunohistochemical investigation of osteopontin (OPN) antibody marker.
RESULTS: Diabetic rats of E1 subgroup showed apparently thin epithelial diaphragm. E2 subgroup showed areas of degeneration between odontoblastic cells and periodontal fibers disorganization, while E3 subgroup showed increased cementum thickness, widening of cementocytes lacunae and massive congestion in pulpal blood vessels. Positive OPN immunoreactivity was observed in E1 subgroup in the epithelial diaphragm cells and primitive pulp tissue while E2 and E3 subgroups showed immunoreactivity in pulp, cementoblastic cells lining the cementum tissue and PDL fibers.
CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes mellitus induction in pregnant mothers adversely affected molars root formation of the offspring. Alterations in dental root forming cells, pulp, cementum and PDL in the offspring were associated with increased OPN immuno-expression.