A quantitative study of osteoclastic bone resorption during experimental periodontal disease in the golden hamster

The aim of this study was to measure the osteoclastic resorption of alveolar bone during an experimental periodontal disease. Twenty golden hamsters were used: 10 animals were fed a normal diet and served as controls and 10 animals were fed the Keyes hyperglucidic diet during 6 months to induce periodontal disease. The results show that the different surfaces of alveolar bone do not react in the same proportion: the number of osteoclasts is greatly and significantly increased (p < 0.001) along the periosteum, significantly increased (p < 0.01) along the endosteum, and not modified along the alveolar wall.The number of osteoclasts along the alveolar wall is negatively correlated with the number of osteoclasts along the endosteum and the periosteum.