AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF Co-60 IRRADIATION IN THE RAT PERIODONTIUM.

방사선조사가 백서의 치주조직에 미치는 영향에 관한 실험적 연구

It is known that radiation therapy is a kind of treatment choices of the maxillofacial tumors. This study is designed to investigate the irradiation effects on rat's periodontal tissues as functional tissues which relate to tooth-support, hard tissue formation and destruction. 20 rats (Sprague-Dowley branch, male) were devided into control group of 4 and experimental groupe of 16. Experimental group was singly exposed to Co-60 irradiation with 10 Gy in the head and neck region. Animals were sacrificed on 2 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks after the irradiation. The specimens were observed by histopathological examination employing H-E stain, van-Gieson stain and PA-ACH fluorescent stain. The results were as follows: 1. Cementoblasts and osteoblasts were gradually lost and rearranged along the external surfaces of the cementum and alveolar bone, but osteoclasts were almost not affected. 2. The cell numbers of the periodontal ligament were decreased due to the cellular atrophy and degeneration, but recovered almost normally on the 3rd week after irradiation. 3. The collagen fibers within the periodontal ligament were irregularly oriented, became finer and decreased in number. 4. The vessels of the periodontal ligament were decreased at the initial stage but increased again on the 2nd week after irradiation, and the hemorrhagic appearances, occurred within the tissues, due to the arterial destruction, were lasted until 3 weeks after irradiation. 5. The glycogen within the periodontal ligament was gradually increased and stored in the matrices of the cemental side on the 1st week after irradiation, but recovered almost normally on the 3rd week after irradiation.