Chronic periodontitis induces the proliferation of pancreatic β‐cells to cause hyperinsulinemia in a rat model

Abstract

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine if chronic periodontitis (CP) may induce hyperinsulinemia and may have the effect of on pancreatic β‐cell proliferation in a rat model.Materials and MethodsTwelve male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into two groups: the CP group and the control group (Con group). The following contents were evaluated: pathological changes in periodontal soft and hard tissues; serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level, serum fasting insulin (FINS) level, fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) β (HOMA‐β) index; histopathological examination of islets; immunohistochemistry of insulin and p‐Smad2 expression in islets; immunofluorescence of changes in the relative number of β‐cells and the number of Ki67‐positive β‐cells. Western blotting was used to analyze p‐Smad2/Smad2 levels. Results were analyzed by two independent samples t tests.ResultsIncreased serum LPS level, FINS level, and HOMA‐β index were observed in the rats of the CP group; FBG level did not change significantly; histological assessments showed an enlarged islet area, increased insulin content, relatively increased β‐cells, increased Ki67‐positive β‐cells, and decreased p‐Smad2 expression in islets in the rats of the CP group.ConclusionOur study results link CP‐induced hyperinsulinemia with changes in islets, such as islet hyperplasia and compensatory β‐cell proliferation, by using a CP rat model.