Postnatal Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Periodontitis in Wistar Rat Pups.

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis during pregnancy is associated with preterm births and low birth weight. This study evaluated how experimental periodontitis induced in female rats impacts the physical development, motor skills, and dental and maxillary development of their pups.

METHOD: Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into the control group (C, n = 12) and the induced periodontal disease group (P, n = 12). Periodontitis was induced in the first maxillary molars 14 days before mating. Delivery occurred on the 21st day of gestation, and four offspring from each litter were evaluated (n = 48) for 30 days to verify physical and reflexological development. The first molars and alveolar bone were evaluated in 30-day-old animals using X-ray microtomography and histopathological analysis. Differences between groups were considered significant if p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The P group had a lower number of live offspring (9.4 ± 1.9 pups) than the C group (11.4 ± 2.1, p = 0.03). The P offspring group showed lower weight (F = 1.17; p < 0.0001) and length (F = 3.47; p < 0.0001), as well as delayed hair growth (p = 0.01) and eruption of incisors (p = 0.001). The P offspring presented a delay in the motor development of postural straightening (p = 0.01), adult gait (p = 0.01), and negative geotaxis (p = 0.01). No developmental anomalies were observed in the maxillary first molars; however, the P group showed a decreased number (p = 0.02) and increased distance (p = 0.007) between the maxillary bone trabeculae.

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontitis delayed physical and reflexological development and impaired maxillary bone quality in offspring.