Porphyromonas gingivalis infection modifies oral microcirculation and aortic vascular function in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP)

The objective of this study is to analyze the vascular endothelial function of periodontitis and stroke animal models. We examined endothelial function and gingival blood flow in oral microcirculation in vivo and measured the isometric tension in vitro of the aorta in animal models for lifestyle-related diseases, such as periodontitis and stroke. Gingival reactive hyperemia (GRH) was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as control animals; Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) infected WKY (WKY + Pg) as the periodontitis model; stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) as the stroke model; and a final group consisting of P. gingivalis infected SHRSP (SHRSP + Pg). Furthermore, for each group, the relaxation of descending aortic ring preparations was measured using a force transducer. The GRH was estimated by maximum response (peak), time taken for the maximum response to fall to one half (T1/2), and increased total amount of blood flow (mass). The relative change in T1/2 and mass increased in SHRSP + Pg compared to WKY. However, mass significantly increased in WKY (758.59 ± 88.21 ml/min/100 g.s to 1755.55 ± 226.10 ml/min/100 g.s) and SHRSP (1214.87 ± 141.61 ml/min/100 g.s to 2674.32 ± 675.48 ml/min/100 g.s) after treatment with acetylcholine. In addition, T1/2 and mass significantly increased in WKY + Pg (624.18 ± 96.36 ml/min/100 g.s to 2629.90 ± 612.01 ml/min/100 g.s) and SHRSP + Pg (1116.36 ± 206.24 ml/min/100 g.s to ...
Source: Microbial Pathogenesis - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research