Low-Intensity Ultrasound Combined with Hematoporphyrin Monomethyl Ether in the Treatment of Experimental Periodontitis in Rats

Objectives . This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether- (HMME-) mediated sonodynamic therapy (SDT) on experimental periodontal disease in rats. Methods . Periodontal disease was induced by submerging ligatures at the first maxillary molar subgingival region in forty-eight male SD rats. After 30 days, the ligatures were removed. The rats were randomly allocated into four groups; the experimental SDT group was treated through hypodermic injection of 40 μ g/mL HMME and 3 W/cm 2 low-intensity ultrasound irradiation (1 MHz, 600 s). Those in control groups received 40 μ g/mL HMME alone (control 1 group) or 3 W/cm 2 ultrasound irradiation alone (control 2 group) or were subjected to neither HMME nor ultrasound (control 3 group). After 10 days of treatment, all rats were euthanized, the maxilla was obtained for histological examination, and the alveolar bone level was evaluated by histometric analysis. Results . The control groups showed more bone loss (P<0.05) after 10 days of treatment than the SDT group. There is no significant difference among the control groups (P>0.05). Conclusions . HMME mediated SDT was an effective therapy of experimental periodontal tissue in rats.