Microstructural changes of periodontal tissue under the action of opioid analgesics in the early stages

Abstract

The objective of the study is to determine the peculiarities of pathomorphological features of the periodontal tissue complex under conditions of inoculation of opioid analgesics in small doses for 4 weeks.Material and methods. The study was conducted on 16 outbred sexually mature white male rats which were injected Nalbuphine in a daily dose from 0.212 mg/kg to 0.252 mg/kg for 28 days. Amputated maxillary segments and exarticulated mandibular segments have been used for histological study.Results. The development of the inflammatory process was accompanied by epithelial cell layers damage, their marked hypertrophy, the phenomena of desquamation, keratosis and hyperkeratosis. Invasion of epithelium in swollen lamina propria and initial signs of the destruction of the epithelial attachment have been detected in the region of the gingival sulcus. Polymorphic cell infiltration is moderately marked in the lamina propria of the gingival mucosa and periodontium. Changes in the microcirculatory bloodstream of the connective tissue were manifested by plethora, phenomena of angiomatosis and dilatation of venules. Osseous tissue of the slightly mineralized. Сementum of the tooth root was non-homogeneously mineralized.Conclusions. Initial changes in cell injuries prevailed in interfacial layers of periodontal soft tissues with subsequent spread of the pathological process in deeper periodontal layers where the osseous tissue, periosteum and cementum of the tooth root remained almost intact. The compensatory-adaptive reactions in periodontal tissues were sufficiently developed in the early stages of opioid exposure along with alterations of the inflammatory character.