Experimental Dental Caries

Abstract

It was shown, in 2 separate studies, that the incidence of experimental dental caries in orchiectomized albino rats was lower than in control animals. Ovariectomized animals in one study exhibited a reduction in caries incidence but an increase in caries incidence in the second study. Giving diethylstilbestrol and estradiol to control and gonadectomized animals resulted in an increased incidence of dental caries in all groups except the intact males receiving diethylstilbestrol. The fluoride concentration in femurs of intact males and females receiving the 2 hormones was appreciably higher than that of corresponding control animals. The same was true of gonadectomized males and females except in the case of ovariectomized females receiving diethylstilbestrol. Gonadectomy did not appear to influence the fluorine concentration. The histologic structure of the submaxillary gland was markedly altered by gonadectomy and administration of the 2 female sex hormones. This finding could not be correlated with the alterations in caries incidence.