Maternal Obesity and Periodontitis Induce Increased of Body Weights, Alteration of the Periodontal Tissue and Decreased of Root Resorption in Female Rats Offspring. A Comparative Study

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal obesity associated or not with periodontitis affects the body parameters, the periodontal tissue structure and the tooth root of female offspring.

Study Design: Experimental research.

Methodology: Female Wistar rats (n=20) were used; half (n=10) received monosodium glutamate injections for obesity induction (MSG group), and the other half received saline injections (CTL group). At 70 days of life, ligature-induced periodontitis was induced. At 80 days, the rats were mated and produced offspring (F1). When the offspring were 70 days of age, they were subjected to ligature.

Results: The offspring of obese mothers without periodontitis had higher body weights and higher Lee index values than the offspring of control mothers. The MSG-CL-F1-CL group had greater gingival inflammation and lower alveolar bone loss than the CTL-CL-F1-CL, MSG-SL-F1-CL and CTL-CL-F1-CL groups. The female offspring of obese mothers showed increased numbers of osteocytes and osteoblasts and smaller root resorption areas than offspring of control mothers.

Conclusion: In conclusion, maternal obesity and periodontitis causes increased of body weights, gingival epithelium and connective tissue and decreased of the alveolar bone loss and root resorption in female rats offspring.