Effect of turpentine-induced fever during the enamel formation of rat incisor

Tung, Kuochung; Fujita, Haruko; Yamashita, Yasuo; Takagi, Yuzo

doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2005.12.001

« Previous Next »Archives of Oral Biology
Volume 51, Issue 6 , Pages 464-470, June 2006

Effect of turpentine-induced fever during the enamel formation of rat incisor

Kuochung Tung
- Developmental Oral Health Science, Department of Orofacial Development and Function, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 3 58030204; fax: +81 3 58030204.
Haruko Fujita
- Developmental Oral Health Science, Department of Orofacial Development and Function, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan
Yasuo Yamashita
- Maxillofacial Anatomy, Department of Maxillofacial Biology, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
Yuzo Takagi
- Developmental Oral Health Science, Department of Orofacial Development and Function, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan

Accepted 1 December 2005.

Summary

Objective

Some epidemiological studies have indicated that diseases resulting in prolonged and sustained fever, such as exanthemata, respiratory infections and otitis media in infantile period or childhood are likely to have a marked deleterious effect on enamel formation, but the relationship between fever and enamel defects is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to induce a persistent high fever and examine the effects on the developing tooth enamel.

Methods

Twenty male Wistar rats weighting 140±10g were used in this study. For the experimental group, a dose of 2.3ml/kg steam-distilled turpentine was subcutaneously injected into both hind limbs five times at 12h intervals. Control rats received 2.3ml/kg of sterile saline into the same injection site. The rectal temperatures of animals were measured at the febrile period. After constant periods, the animals were sacrificed, and the mandibular incisors were examined by contact microradiography (CMR) and histological observation.

Results

The febrile state lasted for 57h and the average temperature rose 1.51°C higher than that of the control group. The ground sections, semi-thin and ultra-thin sections of mandibular incisors were prepared and the enamel was observed. The microradiographs showed a radiolucent line along with the incremental line in the enamel. Moreover, microscopic examination indicated disorientation of enamel prism and crystal-free area within this radiolucent lesion.

Conclusions

Persistent high fever pattern was established firmly by the turpentine injections and the process of enamel formation was influenced by the febrile period.

Keywords: Enamel formation, Turpentine, Fever, Rat