Impact of three different mouthwashes on the incidence of gingival overgrowth induced by cyclosporine-A: a randomized controlled experimental animal study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three different mouthwashes on the incidence of cyclosporine-A-induced gingival overgrowth.

Study design: One hundred albino rats were divided into five equal groups. Group I rats received no treatment. Group II rats were administered cyclosporine-A. Group III, IV, and V rats were handled as group II and concomitantly treated with chlorhexidine gluconate, cetylpyridinium chloride, and essential oil mouthwashes, respectively. Ten rats from each group were euthanized after the first week of treatment, and the remaining rats were euthanized after the second week of treatment. The obtained specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and tumor growth factor beta (TGF-β), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) immunohistochemical stains.

Results: The histologic findings at the end of the first and second weeks revealed marked increases in gingival overgrowth for groups II and IV in comparison with groups III and V. Increased epithelial thickness and collagen accumulation were prominent in groups II and IV compared with the other groups. Groups II and IV revealed the highest immunoreactivities for TGF-β and for IL-6. Groups I, III, and V revealed the highest level of MMP-1 expression.

Conclusions: Essential oils and chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwashes significantly reduced the incidence of gingival overgrowth compared with cetylpyridinium chloride.