Reversibility of Lathyric Damage to the Periodontal Structures

Abstract

I T is well established that feeding rats with Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea) or with beta amino propionitrile (BAPN) produces lesions in bone and connective tissue. The severe damage to the teeth and their supporting structures has been mentioned by Carwell 1 and described in detail by Krikos, et al. 2 and by Gardner, et al. 3 Whether the injured dental tissues can recover when the animals are taken off their toxic diets has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the damage to teeth and periodontal structures is reversible. MATERIALS AND METHODMale albino rats of Holtzman-SpragueDawley strain, 61-71 grams of weight, were used. Six animals were put on 0.25% BAPN in Rockland Stock Diet and six animals on 50% Sweet Peas and 50% Rockland Stock Diet. Two weeks later, two animals in each group were sacrificed, and four were placed on stock diet. Two of these were sacrificed after one week and the remaining two after two weeks. A set of controls was maintained on the stock diet throughout the four week period.The heads were fixed in 10% formalin, examined grossly, split into halves sagittally, x-rayed and decalcified in formic acid. The regions bearing the upper molars were dissected, embedded in paraffin, sectioned mesiodistally at six µ thickness, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and used for microscopic study.

Effects of lathyrogens on the mechanical strength of the periodontal ligament in the rat mandibular first molar

“…After cessation of the daily administration of AAN, the body weight of the animals began to be restored progressive!y (Tab!e 4). Simi!ar results were also obtained with BAPN by other investigators (29,30). It is assumed that the suppressive effeet of AAN on the weight gain only appeared for a period of administration of the drug.…”