Effect of adenosine triphosphate on periodontium in treatment of experimental periodontitis in laboratory animals

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory periodontal diseases are highly prevalent; it is one of the priority issues of contemporary dentistry.

AIM: To study the effect of topical adenosine triphosphate on periodontium in laboratory animals by immunohistochemical assay.

METHODS: Chronic periodontitis was experimentally modeled in Wistar rats. The study involved three groups of animals, 15 subjects each, including the control group with intact rats (group 1), the experimental group of standard therapy (group 2), and the experimental group of adenosine triphosphate used by the proprietary method (group 3). Following clinical and laboratory assessment, animals were sacrificed at days 7, 14, and 21 post-treatment. For immunohistochemical assay, a 1.5 × 1.0 cm central lower incisor region was prepared. The obtained data were mathematically and statistically processed using Microsoft Excel software. The groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. The critical level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.01.

RESULTS: At day 21, in rats with a chronic periodontitis model from experimental group 3, a significantly decreased activity of CD45(+) of all leukocytes (4.9 ± 0.19), MPO(+) neutrophils (1.25 ± 0.08), CD3(+) T lymphocytes (0.78 ± 0.04), CD20(+) B lymphocytes (0.95 ± 0.07), CD68(+) macrophages (1.46 ± 0.11), and mast cell tryptase(+) (0.88 ± 0.05) was observed compared to the control group [CD45(+): 35.06 ± 2.05; p = 0.007; MPO(+): 9.62 ± 0.78; p = 0.009; CD3(+): 9.75 ± 0.80; p = 0.006; CD20(+): 13.82 ± 0.94; p = 0.001; CD68(+): 14.81 ± 1.01; p = 0.002; tryptase(+): 3.48 + 0.29; p = 0.001] and to experimental group 2 [MPO(+): 1.64 ± 0.08; p = 0.008; CD20(+): 1.94 + 0.09; p = 0.001; tryptase(+): 1.69 + 0.08; p < 0.001]. At day 21, in the control group, areas of destruction were detected in the cementum and extensive necrotic and lytic areas in bone tissue were detected in the dental arch. In experimental group 2, some regions of the gingival epithelium were atrophied or showed signs of hyperkeratosis; sclerotic changes were detected in the periodontal ligament, and the cementum was thinned. At day 21 post-treatment, in experimental group 3, the gingival mucosa is lined with keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with a distinct structural organization of cells. The periodontal ligament is represented by collagen fiber bundles and loose connective tissue with cementoblasts and osteoblasts. The alveolar wall is represented by lamellar bone with osteons without defects.

CONCLUSION: Adenosine triphosphate has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect at the early stages, significantly reduces the periodontal inflammation and contributes to the periodontal inflammation inactivation until its structures are completely restored.