Indian Journal of Experimental Biology Vol. 53, February 2015, pp. 93-97 Alveolar bone loss induced by chronic ethanol consumption from adolescence to adulthood in Wistar rats Ster Vogel Bannach 1 , Francisco Bruno Teixeira 1 , Luanna Melo Pereira Fernandes 1 , Railson Oliveira Ferreira 1 , Luana Nazaré da Silva Santana 1 , Enéas Andrade Fontes-Júnior 2 , Gedeão Batista Oliveira 2 , Rui Daniel Prediger 3 , Cristiane Socorro Ferraz Maia 2 & Rafael Rodrigues Lima 1* 1 Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences; Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, 66075-900. 2 Laboratory Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, 66075-900. 3 Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis-Santa Catarina, 88049-900, Brazil. Received 23 January 2014; revised 16 February 2014 Though there are literature indicating the bone loss due to alcohol consumption, studies on the association between ethanol consumption and periodontal breakdown in animals are either scarce or have provided conflicting results. Here, we investigated the effects of chronic alcohol exposure from adolescence to adulthood on the alveolar bone in rats. Wistar rats were exposed to ethanol (6.5 g/kg/day) in a solution of 22.5% (w/v) or distilled water (control) by gavage from 35 days of age (adolescent) until 90 days (adulthood). Evaluation of the bone loss was performed using scanning electronic microscopy, in which the distances between the cement-enamel junction and the alveolar bone crest from the palatal side of the first molar mandibular were measured. The measurements obtained were tabulated and analyzed using Student’s t-test. Alcohol-treated group revealed greater bone loss in comparison to the control group. These findings indicate that heavy chronic alcohol exposure from adolescent to adulthood can induce alveolar bone loss in rats associated to absence of periodontitis. Keywords: Alcoholism, Dental, Periodontitis Ethanol is a widely used drug of abuse among adolescents due to its easy availability and acceptance by society 1-2 . Early use of ethanol is reflected in the higher incidence of alcoholism in adulthood, given that, over 80% of drinkers reported alcohol-related problems before the age of 30 and 40% between 15–19 years of age 3 . Adolescents are recognized as a nutritionally at-risk group 4 . About 90% of skeletal development and attainment of peak bone mass occur during this stage of life 5 . This could be impaired in the presence of ethanol 6 when the intake of calcium and other vitamins (D) is reduced. Further, a decrease in blood vitamin D levels induces release of parathyroid hormone, which could increase the osteoclast activity and bone resorption 7 . Alveolar bone is a specialized part of periodontium that forms the primary support structure for teeth 8 . Alveolar bone develop directly from ectomesenchymal cells (intramembranous or desmal ossification), unlike bones of the trunk, which develop on the basis of a pre-existing cartilage model (endochondral ossification) 9 . Alveolar bone also differs from other bones by presenting all forms of bone histology, as a Harversian system and lamellated and bundle bone 10 . Functionally, is subjected to continual and rapid remodeling associated with functional demands of mastication 8 . Inflammatory periodontal disease leads to dental element loss in adults, provoked by bacterial plaque accumulation, followed by edema, inflammatory cells migration and pro-inflammatory mediators release, resulting in alveolar bone loss 11 . Dantas et al. 12 reported that heavy ethanol exposure produces additive effects on interleukin (IL)-1b, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression and iNOS activity induced by periodontitis in rats. Further, harmful effects of ethanol intake on periodontal breakdown depends on the dose and period of exposure. Alcohol consumption is known to decrease bone mineral density 13-17 , affect bone repair 17,18 and bone —————— *Correspondence: Telefax: 00 5591 3201 7891 E-mail: rafalima@ufpa.br, rafaelrodrigueslima@hotmail.com