Comparison of etoricoxib and indomethacin for the treatment of experimental periodontitis in rats

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 117 - 125
• Main Authors: Azoubel, M C F, Menezes, A M A, Bezerra, D, Oriá, R B, Ribeiro, R A, Brito, G A C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 01-01-2007
• Subjects: Alveolar bone loss; Alveolar Bone Loss - drug therapy; Animals; BIOLOGY; Cyclooxygenase inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - adverse effects; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Etoricoxib; Female; Gastric Mucosa - drug effects; Indomethacin; Indomethacin - adverse effects; Indomethacin - therapeutic use; Inflammation; Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Periodontitis; Periodontitis - drug therapy; Pyridines - adverse effects; Pyridines - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sulfones - adverse effects; Sulfones - therapeutic use; Inflammation; Indomethacin; Periodontitis; Etoricoxib; Cyclooxygenase inhibitors; Alveolar bone loss
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 1414-431X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0100-879X2006005000060

We investigated the effect of etoricoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and indomethacin, a non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, on experimental periodontitis, and compared their gastrointestinal side effects. A ligature was placed around the second upper left molars of female Wistar rats (160 to 200 g). Animals (6 per group) were treated daily with oral doses of 3 or 9 mg/kg etoricoxib, 5 mg/kg indomethacin, or 0.2 mL saline, starting 5 days after the induction of periodontitis, when bone resorption was detected, until the sacrifice on the 11th day. The weight and survival rate were monitored. Alveolar bone loss (ABL) was measured as the sum of distances between the cusp tips and the alveolar bone. The gastric mucosa was examined macroscopically and the periodontium and gastric and intestinal mucosa were examined by histopathology. The ongoing ABL was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by 3 and 9 mg/kg etoricoxib and by indomethacin: control = 4.08 +/- 0.47 mm; etoricoxib (3 mg/kg) = 1.89 +/- 0.26 mm; etoricoxib (9 mg/kg) = 1.02 +/- 0.14 mm; indomethacin = 0.64 +/- 0.15 mm. Histopathology of periodontium showed that etoricoxib and indomethacin reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, ABL, and cementum and collagen fiber destruction. Macroscopic and histopathological analysis of gastric and intestinal mucosa demonstrated that etoricoxib induces less damage than indomethacin. Animals that received indomethacin presented weight loss starting on the 7th day, and higher mortality rate (58.3%) compared to etoricoxib (0%). Treatment with etoricoxib, even starting when ABL is detected, reduces inflammation and cementum and bone resorption, with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.