Increased number of anaerobic bacteria in the infected root canal in type 2 diabetic rats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and anaerobic bacteria detected in infected root canals. STUDY DESIGN: Normal Wistar rats (control) received a standard laboratory diet with water (group A), and GK rats (type 2 diabetes mellitus rats) a normal laboratory diet with water (group B) or a 30% sucrose solution (group C). Chemotaxis assay was conducted on polymorphonuclear leukocytes from the 3 groups, and the numbers of anaerobic bacteria in infected root canals were determined. RESULTS: In the chemotaxis assay on the polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the chemotactic response of cells in group C was lower than that for groups A and B (P < .01). As to bacteria detected in the root canal, obligate anaerobic bacteria which stained gram negative, were significantly more numerous in group C (P < .01) than in groups A and B. CONCLUSION: The metabolic condition produced by type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats might lower the general host resistance against bacterial infection.