Nazlı ÇİL, Havva Müge BALSEVEN, Alper KIZILDAĞ, Şahika Pınar AKYER, Gül NEŞET, Ergun METE, Canan ÖNDER, Yaşar ENLİ, Gülçin ABBAN METE
Meandros Medical and Dental Journal - 2026;27(2):339-348
Objective: Periodontitis causes periodontal inflammation and destruction and is known to increase the risk of occurrence in pregnant women. Boric acid (BA) reduces inflammatory cell infiltration in periodontitis. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of BA at different doses in pregnant rats with experimentally induced periodontitis by ligature. Materials and Methods: Sixty Wistar Albino female rats were divided into six groups: A periodontally healthy, non -pregnant control group (NL,n:10); A periodontally healthy, pregnant control group (NLP,n:10); A periodontitis and pregnant group not administered BA (LP,n:10); A per iodontitis, pregnant group administered 1.5 mg/kg/day BA (BA1,n:10); Periodontitis and pregnant group administered 3 mg/kg/day BA (BA3,n:10); Periodontitis and pregnant group administered 6 mg/kg/day BA (BA6,n:10). Blood and tissue samples were taken from rats. Interleukin 33 (IL -33), tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF -a), interleukin -6(IL-6), interleukin -1beta(IL -1beta) and (The receptor activator of NF -kappaB ligand) RANKL expressions were determined by the Enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay(ELIS A) and immunohistochemically. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) measurements were performed in liver and placental tissues. Periodontium, liver and placenta tissues were evaluated histopathologically. Results: When the periodontal samples of the groups were compared, BA treatment improved histological appearance and scoring. The significant placental degeneration observed in the LP group was found to decrease in the BA3 group (p<0.05). RANKL expression was stron gly positive in the LP and BA6 groups, while it weakened in the BA1 and BA3 groups. Conclusion: 1.5 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg BA were effective in treating periodontitis in pregnant rats. But the 6 mg/kg BA was found to be ineffective.
