Abstract
There are a few data relating to the effects of lead (Pb) exposure on the alveolar bone, which has very distinct morphophysiological characteristics and is of great importance in the oral cavity. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the changes promoted after long-term exposure to Pb in the microstructure of the alveolar bone of rats. Twenty adult Wistar rats were exposed to 50 mg/kg/day of lead acetate for 55 days. These animals were euthanized and had their mandible removed. Each mandible was divided into hemimandibles, and the alveolar bone was used for bone lead quantification, crystallinity analysis, microstructure evaluation by the percentage of bone volume (BV/TV), number of trabeculae (Tb.N), thickness of the trabecular (Tb.Th), and trabecular space (Tb.Sp). Morphometric analysis of the exposed root area was also performed. Long-term exposure to Pb resulted in high levels of Pb in the alveolar bone but showed no changes in the organization of crystallinity. The microstructural analyses showed a reduction of BV/TV, Tb.Th, and Tb.N and increase of Tb.Sp parameters, resulting in an increase in the exposed root area and an alveolar bone loss in height. The findings of this study reveal the ability of Pb to alter the alveolar bone microstructure after long-term exposure to the metal, possibly due to changes in tissue homeostasis, contributing to the reduction of bone quality.
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We thank to Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação of Federal University of Pará (PROPESP, UFPA, Brazil) and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
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This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil(CAPES) financing Code 001.
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Conceptualization: Rafael Rodrigues Lima, Walessa Alana Bragança Aragão, and Lodinikki Lemoy Davis. Methodology: Rafael Rodrigues Lima, Lodinikki Lemoy Davis, Géssica de Oliveira Lopes, Ana Cláudia Rossi, Alexandre Rodrigues Freire, Felippe Bevilacqua Prado, Allan da Silva Cruz, Kelly das Graças Fernandes Dantas, and Rômulo Simões Angélica. Formal analysis and investigation: Walessa Alana Bragança Aragão, Lodinikki Lemoy Davis, and Géssica de Oliveira Lopes. Writing—original draft preparation: Walessa Alana Bragança Aragão, Lodinikki Lemoy Davis, Géssica de Oliveira Lopes, and Luciana Guimaraes Eiró. Writing—review and editing: Rafael Rodrigues Lima, Rômulo Simões Angélica, Simone Patricia Aranha Paz, and Alan Rodrigo Leal Albuquerque. Funding acquisition: Rafael Rodrigues Lima. Resources: Rafael Rodrigues Lima. Supervision: Rafael Rodrigues Lima.
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Davis, L.L., Aragão, W.A.B., de Oliveira Lopes, G. et al. Chronic exposure to lead acetate promotes changes in the alveolar bone of rats: microstructural and physical–chemical characterization. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 13930–13940 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16723-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16723-z