Inhalation of fine particulate matter during pregnancy increased IL-4 cytokine levels in the fetal portion of the placenta.

This study aimed to verify the development of placental and systemic inflammation in rats exposed to fine particulate matter before or during pregnancy. Wistar rats were exposed to filtered air (control) or to a load of 600 μg/m(3) of fine particles in the air. The gene expression of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, INF-γ, TNF-α and Toll-like receptor 4 in the placenta was evaluated.

Effects of lercanidipine on bone density and bone repair in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of the lercanidipine on bone healing (BH) and bone density (BD) in the tibiae of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), using histometric and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) expression analyses.

Materials And Methods: Wistar and SHR were assigned to one of the following groups: normotensive rats (NTR) (n = 15), untreated SHR (n = 15), and lercanidipine-treated SHR (n = 15). The latter group was treated daily with lercanidipine for 6 weeks.

Effects of estrogen deficiency and/or caffeine intake on alveolar bone loss, density, and healing: a study in rats.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of caffeine and/or estrogen deficiency on ligature-induced bone loss (BL), trabecular bone area (TBA), and postextraction bone healing (BH).

Methods: Rats were assigned into one of the following groups (15 each): 1) control = non-ingestion of caffeine/sham surgery; 2) caffeine = ingestion of caffeine/sham surgery); 3) ovariectomized (OVX) = non-ingestion of caffeine/ovariectomy; or 4) caffeine/OVX = ingestion of caffeine/ovariectomy. The rats were under caffeine administration for 65 days and/or estrogen deficiency for 51 days.

Hypertension may affect tooth-supporting alveolar bone quality: a study in rats.

Background: This study evaluates the ligature-induced bone loss (BL) and quality of tooth-supporting alveolar bone in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) by histometric, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses and assesses the effects of lercanidipine on these parameters.

Methods: Wistar rats and SHRs were assigned to one of the following groups: normotensive rats (n = 15), untreated SHRs (n = 15), and treated SHRs (n = 15). The latter group was treated daily with lercanidipine for 45 days.