Mandibular biomechanical behavior of rats submitted to chronic intermittent or continuous hypoxia and periodontitis

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to continuous (CH) and intermittent (IH) hypoxia on biomechanical properties of the mandible and periodontal tissue of animals submitted to experimental periodontitis (EP) when applying loads in a hypoxic environment.

Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were exposed during 90 days to IH or CH (simulated high altitude of 4200 m above sea level). Fourteen days prior to the euthanasia, EP was induced to half of the animals of each group.

Results: Only in the rats with EP, IH decreased the maximum capacity of the mandible to withstand load and the limit of elastic load. Indicators of intrinsic properties of the bone material were significantly reduced by both types of hypoxia in rats with EP. Hypoxia enhanced the alveolar bone loss induced by EP in the buccal side of the mandible, without showing additional effects in lingual or interradicular bone. Hypoxia increased prostaglandin E₂ content in gingival tissue of healthy animals and further elevated the E₂ levels increased by EP.

Conclusions: When periodontitis is present, hypoxic stress induces a decrease in mineral properties that ultimately affects the ability of the mandible to resist load, mainly during intermittent exposure to hypoxia. These effects on bone may be related to the higher levels of prostaglandin E₂ reached in the surrounding gingival tissue. The findings of this study may stimulate strategies to prevent unwanted effects of hypoxia on periodontal tissues.

Keywords: Bone loss; Hypoxia; Mandible biomechanics; Periodontitis.