Studies of a periodontal tissue lesion in the rat, untreated or treated with chlorhexidine digluconate

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Abstract
The studies currently reported formed part of an enquiry, the overall objective being to identify a suitable animal model upon which initial screening of compounds and formulations with prophylactic and/or therapeutic potential in periodontitis could be carried out. An earlier study reported that periodontal inflammation could be produced in the conventional laboratory rat by application of a ligature to the molar teeth. The pathological and histopathological changes in the periodontium following application of ligatures to the molar teeth of young rats and the tissue responses observed after topical application of chlorhexidine digluconate, are presented. Plaque formed rapidly and an acute periodontitis was induced; application of increasing concentrations of chlorhexidine digluconate gave a progressive diminution in the severity of the lesions. The major bacterial components of the plaque were actinomycetes and streptococci.