Postnatal lipopolysaccharide-induced illness predisposes to periodontal disease in adulthood.

The long-term consequences of neonatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure on adult behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responsiveness as well as on the clinical course of periodontal disease were assessed in male Lewis rats. At 3 and 5 days of age, pups were administered either saline (SHAM) or LPS or were left undisturbed. After postnatal treatment, mothers licked LPS-treated pups significantly more. In adult LPS rats of 3-5 months of age, home cage activity indicated changes of the diurnal rhythmicity. Furthermore, SHAM- and LPS-treated animals displayed treatment-specific signs of increased anxiety in social interaction, elevated plus maze, holeboard, and open field tests. At 7 months of age, a dramatic increase of periodontal fiber loss in LPS rats was associated with increased plasma interleukin-6 levels. In contrast, SHAM treatment caused high plasma interferon-gamma cytokine levels and protective effects in periodontal disease. Parameters of the response to novelty were significantly correlated with later disease susceptibility. Thus, LPS-induced early postnatal illness modulates the adult behavioral responsiveness to stress and predisposes to periodontal disease. Copyright 2001 Elsevier Science (USA).