Prevotella nigrescens exacerbates periodontal inflammation and impairs cognitive function in mice.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.03.02
- Author:
Qi CHEN
1
;
Tiantian XIA
2
;
Yongqiang ZHOU
3
;
Mingyang CHANG
4
;
Nan HU
5
;
Yanmei YANG
5
;
Zhong LI
5
;
Yue GAO
3
;
Bin GU
5
Author Information
1. Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing 100853, China.
2. Medical College of Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
3. Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Anti-radiation Drug Research Laboratory of Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China.
4. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
5. Department of Stomatology, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Prevotella nigrescens;
behavioral changes;
cognitive impairment;
oral bacteria;
periodontitis
- MeSH:
Animals;
Periodontitis/microbiology*;
Mice;
Mice, Inbred C57BL;
Cognition;
Alveolar Bone Loss;
Hippocampus/pathology*;
Male;
Inflammation;
Maze Learning
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2025;45(3):453-460
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To investigate the effects of periodontitis induced by Prevotella nigrescens (Pn) combined with ligation on cognitive functions in mice.
METHODS:Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, ligation group, and ligation + Pn treatment (P+Pn) group. Experimental periodontitis was induced by silk ligation of the first molars followed by topical application of Pn for 6 weeks. After modeling, alveolar bone resorption was assessed using micro-CT and histological analysis. Learning and memory abilities of the mice were evaluated using open field test (OFT), novel object recognition test (NORT), and Morris water maze test (MWM). Seven weeks after the start of modeling, the mice were sacrificed for examining histopathological changes in the hippocampus using HE and Nissl staining.
RESULTS:After 6 weeks of molar ligation, micro-CT revealed horizontal alveolar bone resorption and furcation exposure in the mice, and histological analysis showed apical migration of the junctional epithelium, epithelial ridge hyperplasia, and lymphocyte infiltration, and these changes were obviously worsened in P+Pn group. Alveolar bone height decreased significantly in both ligation groups compared to the control group. Cognitive tests showed that the mice in both of the ligation groups traveled shorter distances in OFT, showed reduced novel object preference in NORT, and exhibited longer escape latencies in MWM, and the mice in P+Pn group had significantly poorer performances in the tests. Histologically, obvious neuronal cytoplasmic degeneration, necrosis, nuclear pyknosis, vacuolation, and reduced Nissl bodies and viable neurons were observed in the hippocampal regions of the mice in the two ligation groups.
CONCLUSIONS:Pn infection aggravates alveolar bone destruction, accelerates necrosis and causes morphological abnormalities of neuronal cells in the hippocampus to reduce cognitive functions of mice with periodontitis.
