SUMMARY
Introduction/Objective Lead exposure represents one of the most important factors that affect the
general health, including oral health and it is associated with enamel and dentin tooth defects.
The aim of this paper was to determine expression of the fibronectin in the pulp of rats with experimentally induced diabetes mellitus (DM), after lead exposure, by using immunohistochemical analysis.
Methods The study was conducted on 42 rats of Wistar strain. Intoxication of rats with lead-acetate was
done via drinking water ad libitum. The first group (Exp_14) consisted of 16 rats, which received lead in water
for 14 days, the second group (Exp_30) consisted of 16 rats which received lead in water for 30 days at the
same concentration (1500 ppm), while the control consisted of 10 healthy rats. Groups Exp_14 and Exp_30
were induced into DM, by using the Alloxan intraperitoneally. Pathohistological and immunohistochemical analysis determined fibronectin expression in pulp, odontoblasts, predentin and dentine of the teeth.
Results High diffuse positivity of fibronectin in group Exp_14 was noticed in 63.6% of rats, in group
Exp_30 in 24% of rats, while in the control group it was noticed in 50% of rats. There was no statistically
significant difference in the expression of fibronectin between the examined groups.
Conclusion Lead intoxication through drinking water, for a period of 14 and 30 days, had effect on
the expression of fibronectin in the pulp, odontoblasts, predentin and dentin of the teeth of animals
experimentally induced DM.
