gh STRESS CAUSES PARODONTOSIS

Stress intensifies hydrolysis of proteins, which make the basis of the osseous tissue. That results in inhibition of the osseous tissue growth or destruction. Recent experiments on rats carried out by Ukrainian biologists testify to that. First, the researchers divided the laboratory rats into stress-tolerant and stress non-resistant groups, then they maintained chronical stress - "anxiety neurosis"- with each of the groups for 12 days. Then the animals were killed and the researchers carried out chemical analysis of mandibular bones. The increase of oxyproline content in the parodentium tissue allows to judge about the destruction of collagen proteins, which make the organic basis for bones. It turned out that the rodents susceptible to stress had almost twice as much of this substance than the stress-tolerant ones did. Besides, the parodentium of such rats contains by one-fourth more free molecules of some other proteins - glycoproteins and proteoglycans, which are embedded in macromolecules - associations of protein molecules - in the healthy osseous tissue.

The bone matrix consists of collagen fibers connected by bridges made of proteins - glycoproteins, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. These compounds together support permanent content of water in the osseous tissue and ensure normal metabolism. The stress stirs to activity the adrenal glands cortex that produces the excess of hormones - corticosteroids, which decrease the osseous proteins synthesis. The stress-tolerant animals have slightly modified endocrine control of metabolism, thanks to that, stress poses no threat to their bones.

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