The absorbance was measured at 560 nm. The results were expressed in enzyme units, representing the amount of SOD necessary to inhibit NBT reduction by 50%. The enzymatic activity was expressed as U/μg of gingival selleck tissue. All data are presented as the mean ± SEM. The results were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s Multiple Comparison Test. The Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s tests were used for histopathological analysis.

A significance level of 0.05 was applied. The animals with experimental periodontal disease (EP) did not show anxiolytic behaviour, demonstrated by the lack of a significant difference between the number of entries and the permanence time spent in the closed arm compared to the control. When compared to animals treated with vitamin E, we observed anxiolytic behaviour in the treated

rats. The permanence time spent in the closed arms was significantly higher in rats treated with vitamin E compared to rats without treatment (Table 1). Rats with EP showed a significant alveolar bone loss compared to sham-operated (SO = 1.41 ± 0.30 mm; EP = 7.42 ± 1.37 mm; p < 0.001). MAPK Inhibitor Library cost It was observed that treatment with vitamin E did not reverse the alveolar bone loss caused by EP ( Fig. 1). These data are shown in Fig. 2A, which shows the macroscopic aspects of the sham group (SO) with no resorption of the alveolar bone when compared to the untreated group (EP), where severe bone resorption with root exposure is observed ( Fig. 2B). Fig. 2D shows the macroscopic appearance of periodontium subjected to EP and treated with vitamin E 500 mg/kg, where severe bone loss is observed. Fig. 3 shows photomicrographs of the periodontium of rats subjected to EP and treated with vitamin E. The sham-operated group

showed only a little inflammatory cell infiltrate, and the alveolar process and cementum were preserved (Fig. 3A; Table 2). The EP group revealed an intense cellular infiltration, resorption of the alveolar process, and cementum destruction (Fig. 3B; Table 2). Treatment with vitamin E showed a mild decrease in cellular infiltration that was not statistically significant (Fig. 3C; Table 2). The lipid peroxidation was evaluated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), represented by the malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in Flucloronide gingival tissue. Rats submitted to EP showed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation compared with the sham-operated group (SO = 1.97 ± 0.11 mM; EP = 3.13 ± 0.42 mM). Vitamin E treatment significantly reduced the malondialdehyde formation induced by EP (EP + vitamin E = 1.89 ± 0.35 mM, p < 0.01) ( Fig. 4). No significant changes in SOD activity were observed in gingival tissue homogenates of SO, EP and vitamin E only treated groups. However, SOD activity was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in EP rats treated with vitamin E (SO = 348.3 ± 55.3 U/mg tissue; EP = 315.9 ± 60.0 U/mg tissue; vitamin E = 388.1 ± 37.3 U/mg tissue; EP + vitamin E = 180.