The expression of TNF-α and PGE_2 in periodontal tissues of a rat model with periodontitis exposed to hypoxia at high altitude

AIM:To investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and prostaglandin E2(PGE2)in periodontal tissues of a rat model with periodontitis exposed to hypoxia at high altitude.METHODS:Eighty adult SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups:the hypoxia group(n=20),the hypoxia control group(n=20),the normoxia group(n=20)and the normoxia control group(n=20).Ttwo successful rat periodontitis model groups(the hypoxia group and the normoxia group)were raised under hypoxia(simulating the altitude 5000 meters,23 h per day)and normoxia environment separately for 8 weeks and then the rats were sacrificed and analyzed.Pathological assay was used to detect the general conditions and pathological changes of rat periodontal tissues.Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to determine the expressions of TNF-α and PGE2 in periodontal tissues in different groups of rat model.RESULTS:The levels of TNF-α and PGE2 in the the hypoxia group were not significantly higher than those in the normoxia control group(P0.05).The expressions of TNF-α and PGE2 in the other groups were significantly different(P0.05).CONCLUSION:The levels of TNF-α and PGE2 were increased under hypoxia environment at high altitude.