RESUMO
Background: The present study investigated the possible influence of nicotine on the bone loss rate in the furcation region due to ligature-induced periodontitis rats. Methods: Twenty adult male Wistar rats were included. After anesthesia, the tooth was randomly assigned to receive the cotton ligature in the sulcular area, while the contralateral tooth was left unligated. The animals were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments, including daily intraperitoneal injections: group A, 2 µl/g body weight of saline solution; group B, 2 µl/g body weight of a nicotine solution with 0.13 µl of nicotine/ml of saline solution; group C, 2 µl/g body weight of a nicotine solution with 0.19 µl of nicotine solution with 0.26 µl of nicotine/ml of saline solution. Thirty days later, the animals were sacrificed and the specimens routinely processed for serial decalcificed sections...
