Alveolar bone resorption in animal models of periodontitis

: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by infection of periodontopathic bacteriae, which induces alveolar bone resorption, tooth mobility, and finally tooth loss. In order to clarify the pathogenesis and to develop prevention and treatment of periodontitis, it is important to establish animal models of periodontitis. In this article, we showed several types of experimental models previously reported, and also showed a rat model using ligature and a hamster model using periodontopathic bacteria, both we used in our laboratory. Micro computed tomography (CT) analysis and histological observation revealed the inflammatory localization and osteoclast appearance in periodontal tissues. The usefulness of animal models of periodontitis is demonstrated by exhibiting an inhibitory effect of bisphosphonate and prostaglandin E(2) on alveolar bone resorption in our experimental systems.