Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science) >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 5: 594 - 601

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.05.005

Basic research

Protective effect of apocynin on periodontitis-induced cognitive impairment in mice

  • Li Teng ,
  • Xu Lina ,
  • Jiang Yiting ,
  • He Zhiyan ,
  • Song Zhongchen ,
  • Zhou Wei
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  • 1.Department of Periodontology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology; Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China
    2.Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology; Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai 200125, China
Zhou Wei, E-mail: sweetzw@hotmail.com.

Received date: 2025-11-17

  Accepted date: 2026-01-08

  Online published: 2026-05-28

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China(82270974);Cross Disciplinary Research Fund of Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(JYJC202308)

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Abstract

Objective ·To investigate the effect of apocynin (APO) on periodontitis-induced cognitive impairment in mice and its underlying mechanism. Methods ·C57BL/6 mice were used. A periodontitis model was established by injecting Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P.g LPS) into the palatal gingival sulcus of the maxillary first molars twice a week for four weeks. Apocynin was administered intraperitoneally as an intervention. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to observe alveolar bone resorption. The open field test and the Morris water maze were employed to assess cognitive function. Evans blue staining was used to detect blood-brain barrier permeability. Real-time qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) and occludin (Occl), as well as interleukin-1β (Il-1β) and interleukin-8 (Il-8) in brains. Results ·Compared with the P.g LPS group, mice in the P.g LPS plus apocynin group showed significantly increased bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD), and a significantly decreased bone surface/bone volume ratio (BS/BV). In the open field test, there were no significant differences in locomotor activity among the four groups. In the Morris water maze, the latency of the P.g LPS plus apocynin group was significantly shorter than that of the P.g LPS group from day 3 during the navigation phase. In the probe test, the P.g LPS plus apocynin group crossed the target platform significantly more times than the P.g LPS group. Evans blue staining indicated that the absorbance values decreased significantly in the P.g LPS plus apocynin group. Compared with the P.g LPS group, the expression of Zo-1 (P=0.024) and Ocln (P=0.014) was upregulated, while Il-1β (P=0.001) and Il-8 (P=0.002) were downregulated in the brains of mice treated with apocynin. Conclusion ·Apocynin can alleviate periodontitis-induced cognitive impairment by inhibiting P.g LPS-induced inflammation, reducing alveolar bone resorption, and decreasing blood-brain barrier permeability. These findings suggest that apocynin may have potential neuroprotective effects, which provides an experimental basis for the treatment of periodontitis-related cognitive impairment.

Key words： apocynin; periodontitis; cognitive impairment; blood-brain barrier

Cite this article

Li Teng , Xu Lina , Jiang Yiting , He Zhiyan , Song Zhongchen , Zhou Wei . Protective effect of apocynin on periodontitis-induced cognitive impairment in mice[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026 , 46(5) : 594 -601 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.05.005

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