Metyrapone can act as a modulator of periodontal breakdown

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability of the use of metyrapone (MT) as an experimental model to inhibit glucocorticoid (GC) production and, therefore, as a method to determine the effect of stress-induced GC overproduction on periodontal tissues. Material and methods: Sixty rats were assigned into three groups: G1-control; G2-periodontal disease (PD) induced by cotton ligature, associated with restraint stress (RS); and G3-PD + RS + 3 daily doses of MT. After 30 days, all animals were killed and blood samples were taken to determine the concentrations of corticosterone serum levels. Marginal tissues around teeth were harvested and gene expression was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The area of bone loss (ABL) was also histometrically determined. Results: Intergroup analysis showed that: PD + RS significantly (p<0.001) increased the ABL in ligated sites, as compared to non-ligated sites (G1); furthermore, MT significantly (p<0.05) decreased the production of GC in G3. However, MT also increased ABL and the mRNA levels of all the pro-inflammatory factors assessed (INF-ã, TNF-á, IL-1â and IL-6), when compared to G1 and G2. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, it may be concluded that MT can modulate periodontal disease and, therefore, is not a viable approach to assess the role of stress-induced increased levels of GC on periodontitis progression.