EXPERIMENTAL DENTAL CARIES

III. THE EFFECT OF ESTRADIOL AND DIETHYLSTILBESTROL ON DENTAL CARIES, FLUORINE METABOLISM, AND THE SALIVARY GLANDS OF INTACT AND GONADECTOMIZED RATS

¹ Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis and Bloomington, Ind.

1. In two separate studies, it has been shown that the incidence of experimental dental caries in orchiectomized rats was considerably lower than in control animals. Ovariectomized rats in one study also exhibited reduced caries incidence, while in a second study an increase in caries was noted.

2. The administration of both diethylstilbestrol and estradiol to control and gonadectomized animals resulted in an increased incidence of dental caries in all cases except in the group of intact males receiving diethylstilbestrol.

3. The fluoride concentration in femurs of intact males and females receiving the two hormones was appreciably higher than that of corresponding control animals. The same finding held true for gonadectomized males and females except in the case of ovariectomized females receiving diethylstilbestrol. Gonadectomy per se did not appear to influence the fluorine concentration.

4. The histologic structure of the submaxillary gland was markedly altered by gonadectomy and administration of the two female sex hormones. This finding could not be correlated with the alterations in caries incidence.