Hiroshi Oue, Rie Hatakeyama, Eri Ishida, Miyuki Yokoi, Kazuhiro Tsuga
Oral Diseases, 29(7) 2907-2916, Oct 5, 2022 Peer-reviewed
Abstract
Objective
This study aims to investigate how experimental tooth loss affected learning, memory function, and brain pathophysiology in mice.
Materials and Methods
The mice (C57BL/6 J, 2‐month‐old, male) were divided into tooth loss and control groups. The behavioral test battery was performed at 6 and 12 months after tooth extraction. The protein levels of the tight junctions in the brains of the mice were analyzed. Hippocampal astrocyte was measured using immunohistochemical staining.
Results
The results of behavioral tests and biochemical analysis performed during the 6 months observation period did not show significant differences between the groups. However, the escape latency in the tooth loss group was significantly longer than that in the control group at the 12 months after tooth extraction. The level of claudin‐5 decreased in the tooth loss group. Additionally, hippocampal astrogliosis was found in the tooth loss group.
Conclusions
Experimental tooth loss reduced the level of claudin‐5 and caused astrogliosis in the brains of mice, which was accompanied by deterioration of learning functions. This study may provide a new insight about the association between tooth loss and cognitive dysfunction.