OBJECTIVETo compare alveolar bone mineral density (BMD) changes of the male and female diabetes rats, and male diabetic rats BMD in systemic change.

METHODS40 Wistar rats were divided into diabetic group (15 female rats and 15 male rats) and control group (5 female rats and 5 male rats). Models of diabetes rats were made by peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Blood glucose, serum insulin, indicators of bone metabolism as well as BMD of mandibular alveolar bone, femur and lumbar spine were examined.

RESULTSThe BMD of mandibular alveolar bone in male rats was higher than the female rats in the two groups (P<0.05). The BMD of mandibular alveolar bone of male and female diabetic rats in the diabetic group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The BMD of male rats in the control group was femur, mandibular alveolar bone, lumbar spine from high to low. The BMD of male rats in the diabetic group was mandibular alveolar bone, femur, lumbar spine from high to low.

CONCLUSIONOsteoporosis happen to mandibular alveolar bone of female and male diabetes rats, especially in female rats. The BMD of mandibular alveolar bone, femur and lumbar spine in the male diabetic rats were lower than that in the control group. Mandibular alveolar bone density changes of diabetic rats was in line with the lumbar spine and femur's, or mandibular alveolar bone density changes of diabetic rats lags behind the lumbar spine and femur's.