Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of raloxifene on local alveolar bone destruction of mice with periodontitis and systemic postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). METHODS: No specific pathogen grade Wistar female rats purchased from Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing were divided into 3 groups after 7 days of adaptive feeding, 15 cases in each group. Equal weight of peri-ovary fat tissue was cut in blank group; Rats in the control group received bilateral ovary resection combined with ligation with orthodontic ligation wire, while rats in experimental group received bilateral ovary resection + ligation with orthodontic ligation wire + raloxifene treatment. The activity, diet, weight and the incidence of tooth loosening were observed every day. Bone mineral density and bone resorption were measured by CT scanner, alveolar bone destruction was observed by stereomicroscope, and osteoclast related factors such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-1α, transforming growth factor (TGF), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and TNF-β were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SPSS 18.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: New bone formation was the lowest in the control group, followed by experimental group and blank group. The results of methylene blue staining showed that bone resorption was significant in the control group, and bone destruction was also seen under stereomicroscope; bone resorption and bone destruction of the experimental group were better than those of the control group. Compared with the blank group, alveolar bone density decreased, alveolar bone loss, IL-1, IL-1α, TGF, TNF-α, TNF-β increased in control group and experimental group. The alveolar bone density of the control group was significantly lower than that of the experimental group (P<0.05), and alveolar bone loss, IL-1, IL-1α, TGF, TNF-α, and TNF-β were significantly higher than those of the experimental group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Raloxifene can reduce alveolar bone resorption and osteoclast cytokine expression in mice with PMO periodontal inflammation, prevent alveolar bone destruction and effectively prevent the progression of periodontitis.

Key words: Raloxifene, Periodontitis with systemic postmenopausal osteoporosis, Alveolar bone destruction