12 It was shown that vitamin E reduces superoxide production from neutrophils

in a concentration-dependent way.13 Other studies described its anti-inflammatory properties,14 and 15 whereas a study on the effect of caloric restriction and a vitamin E-deprived diet on mitochondrial structure and features in the liver of rats during ageing demonstrated that vitamin E-deficient rats appeared older than their actual ages.16 Vitamin E was then also considered to be a specific and effective stimulator of the humoral immune response by stimulating the development and/or proliferation of antibody-producing cells.17 Several recent studies have indicated that the total Gefitinib chemical structure antioxidant capacity of plasma appears to be compromised in chronic periodontitis,18 Selleck AZD9291 and the intake of micronutrients led to a slight improvement in the degree of gingival inflammation,19 but the preventive role of antioxidants still needs further investigation. There is also evidence that chronic treatment with antioxidants can benefit cognition in elderly humans and animals.20 This benefit is most likely due to a reduction in the

oxidative stress that is associated with ageing-related sensitivity to ROS that leads to cell death and cognitive declines.21 and 22 In addition to its importance for cognition, vitamin E has also been associated with anxiety. Kolosova et al. showed that vitamin E increased anxiety in rats 23 and, recently, Hugnes and Collins noted that vitamin E appears to interfere with the behaviour of rats, possibly due to the great anxiety that can accompany its action.24 There has been a tremendous Thiamine-diphosphate kinase emphasis on the application of a cost-effective approach to antioxidant therapy within dental research. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin E on the inflammatory response, alveolar bone loss (ABL) and anxiety, using rats diagnosed with ligature-induced experimental periodontitis (EP). Male Wistar rats (180–220 g) obtained from the Central Animal House of the Federal University of Ceará were used for the experiments.

The animals were maintained in standard housing conditions (12-h light/dark cycle at 22 ± 2 °C) with free access to food (Purina Chow) and water except during the test period. The experimental protocol for surgical procedures and animal treatment was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Ceará (protocol no. 052/07). A sterilised nylon (3-0) thread ligature was placed around the cervix of the second left upper molar of rats anesthetised with Xylazine 2% (Kensol®, König, Argentina, 10 mg/kg, IP) and Ketamine 5% (Vetanarcol®, König, Argentina, 60 mg/kg, IP). The ligature was knotted on the buccal side of the tooth, resulting in a subgingival position palatally and in a supragingival position buccally.