THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPERIMENTAL ALIMENTARY OBESITY AND HARD TOOTH TISSUES MINERALIZATION

Abstract

Objective: Obesity has become a pan-European epidemic. More knowledge about the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing adipose tissue accumulation is needed to develop more effective preventative and therapeutic approaches to obesity. We aimed to evaluate the influence of dental micro- and macroelements contents on structural changes of hard tooth tissues in rats with diet-induced obesity. Material and Method: Experimental obesity was modelled by including sodium glutamate to the feed mixture of male, non-liner, white rats of around 3 months of age, in a ratio of 0.6:100.0 and using a high-calorie diet. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer with flame and graphite furnace was used to quantify micro- and macroelement content. To evaluate structural changes of hard tooth tissues we analysed histological specimens prepared from central incisors of upper and lower jaws. Results: Overall, during the experiment period, the concentrations of minerals in hard tooth tissues decreased as follows: calcium, by 1.5 times; magnesium, by 11.8 times; zinc, by 3.6 times; and copper to practically negligible levels (p<0.05). Histological investigations showed significantly enlarged enamel areas with disrupted structure due to the destruction of enamel prisms. Dentine injury was characterized by dentine channels destruction. Their amount significantly decreased in the cement-enamel junction area and near pulpa area as well, and that results in trophic disorders and hard tooth tissues destruction. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that mineralization process of hard tooth tissues was negatively affected in rats with diet-induced obesity.