Periodontitis in the house musk shrew (Suncus murinus): a potential animal model for human periodontal disease.

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Our understanding of periodontal diseases has been facilitated greatly by the use of animal models. However, no animal model has been identified that truly reflects the disease seen in humans. Suncus murinus, a rat-sized laboratory house musk shrew, has received attention as a valuable animal model due to ease of handling. In the studies described here, periodontal conditions in Suncus murinus were evaluated to determine the usefulness of the shrew as an experimental model for understanding various aspects of periodontal diseases. Periodontal tissues of 34 Suncus murinus (18 to 430 days old) were examined macroscopically, morphometrically, histologically, and ultrastructurally. Dentition pattern is I3/1, C1/1, P2/1, M3/3. Spontaneous gingival swelling with accumulation of plaque was observed in more than two-thirds of animals older than 200 days. Morphometric analysis of alveolar bone demonstrated a pattern of bone loss that correlated closely with animal age. Histologically, periodontal lesions varying from gingivitis to periodontitis, similar to those observed in humans, were noted. Marked infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the connective tissue was noted, usually not seen in periodontal lesions of rodents. Although osteoclastic alveolar bone resorption was noted, active bone resorption was not a frequent feature in specimens obtained from chronic inflammatory lesions. Ultrastructurally, degradation of collagen fibers in the inflamed area and ingestion of collagen fibrils by fibroblasts in the deeper connective tissue were often seen. These results indicate the potential utility of Suncus murinus as a model to study periodontal disease; e.g., chronic nature of the inflammatory periodontal lesions, similar to those in humans, as well as other advantages including size and ease of handling and housing of these animals.