Induction of periimplantitis in dental implants.

Development, progression, and therapy of periimplantitis are nonresolved emerging problems. The aim of this pilot study was to establish a model for periimplantitis in mice to have a base for tests with immune-deficient knockout organisms to improve the knowledge about development and progression of periimplantitis and to develop further therapeutic options.In 8 mice, titanium implants were inserted in the median of the palate. Four of these implants had ligatures (periimplantitis group). After 2 weeks, the animals received a special diet enriched with sugar and flavor. After 9 weeks, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) examinations to evaluate the periimplant tissue and histologies were performed.Dental implant insertions within the oral cavity are possible in living mice. Implants with ligatures showed significantly larger periimplant bone defects than controls. The radiologic findings were confirmed by histology. At the end of the observation period, the portion of implants lost was higher in the ligature group.This is the first publication to describe the insertion of dental implants in living mice. In addition, it is the first time that periimplant infection could be induced in that species. This model will pave the way to study knockout mice with reduced or even enhanced resistance to periimplantitis.

Animal model for the absorption of lipophilic substances from tear fluid by the epithelium of the nasolacrimal ducts.

PURPOSE: To compare the nasolacrimal tissues of several species to see how closely they resemble the human and to measure nasolacrimal absorption of a substance, to show that an absorption pathway exists for substances placed in the external eye, other than directly through the cornea or conjunctiva. METHODS: The nasolacrimal systems of six different vertebrates were investigated by light microscopy to find a species with a nasolacrimal system comparable to that of humans, for use in absorption experiments. In addition to primates, rabbits were revealed by histology to have a lacrimal system closely comparable to that of humans. The rabbit lacrimal system had a stratified epithelium consisting of two layers. Subepithelially, the lamina propria was composed of two strata: loose connective tissue containing elastic fibers and lymphatic cells and a rich venous plexus comparable to a cavernous body. Rabbits were therefore chosen for the absorption experiments. (3)H-cortisol was dropped into the eyes of female rabbits. After 21, 43, or 146 minutes, the rabbits were killed, the blood collected, and the nasolacrimal systems prepared and embedded for histologic examination. Serum was obtained from the clotted blood, and radioactivity was counted. Autoradiographs of sections of rabbit nasolacrimal duct were also prepared. RESULTS: Uptake of radioactivity into the serum was high and increased with time. After 21 minutes, maximum incorporation of the applied radioactivity into the blood the level was 7.1%; after 43 minutes, 12.4%; and after 146 minutes, 15.5%. Transport of radioactivity was visualized in autoradiographs of rabbit nasolacrimal systems. CONCLUSIONS: (3)H-cortisol is incorporated from the nasolacrimal ducts into the blood of rabbits. The comparable morphology of rabbits and humans suggests that absorption of cortisol would also take place in humans. Future investigations of the nasolacrimal passage are needed to understand whether absorption of normal tear fluid components in the nasolacrimal ducts is a physiological function that also plays a role in pathologic conditions such as dry eye. The similarities between rabbit and human nasolacrimal ducts support the use of the rabbit for such studies.