The effect of gingival aging in diabetic and non-diabetic status: an experimental study.

Major gingival-periodontal changes according to age have been observed in both diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats weighing 200-220 g were divided into two groups: 1) Nondiabetic (ND) and 2) Diabetic (D) by receiving an intraperitoneal (ip) dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg /kg). Animals from both groups (ND and D) were euthanized at 4, 8, 12, 17 y 25 weeks after treatment with saline solution or STZ. Glycemia values in ND rats were 5 to 6 mmol/L, while in D, glycemia increased progressively between weeks 4 and 25, with values ranging from 18. 3±2. 1 to 39. 3±2. 7 mmol/L. Oxidative stress differed significantly in gums of ND and D rats. ND: lipid peroxidation: Malondialdehyde (MDA): 8. 52±1. 2 to 15. 5±2(nmol/mgP); superoxide dismutase (SOD): 37. 1±4. 2 to 21. 2±1. 3 (U/100mgP); D: MDA 13. 1±1. 6 to 22. 9±2. 7 (nmol/L); superoxide dismutase (SOD): 17. 7±0. 8 to 9. ±0. 2 (U/100mgP). Vascular permeability (VP) and gingival edema (E) showed significant changes between ND and D rats from 4 to 25 weeks. ND: PV: 10±0. 2 to 16. 1±1. 3 (EB ug/g dry t); E: 0. 9±0. 1 to 4. 1±1. 3 ml; D: PV: 12±1. 2 to 24. 4±1. 6 (EB ug/g dry t); E: 2. 2±0. 2 to 8. 4±1. 3 ml. Aging produced progressive natural changes in oxidative stress, VP and gingival E. In diabetic animals, changes in oxidative stress, VP and gingival E were observed early and were progressively more significant than for ND. According to these results, non-diabetic gingival modifications develop naturally with age, while in aging associated to diabetic disease, hyperglycemia increases progressively and early.