Castration prevents calcium channel blocker-induced gingival hyperplasia in beagle dogs

1 The purpose of this study was to investigate testosterone's role on the calcium channel antagonist oxodi-pine-inducing gingival hyperplasia in a dog model.

2 Two experiments were conducted using castrated and intact male dogs. Oxodipine was administered orally for 90 days, at a dose of 24 mg/kg/day. In the first experiment, the occurrence of gingival hyperplasia was evaluated. In the second, the gingival index (GI) and gingival hyperplasia index (GHI) were recorded and correlated with serum levels of testosterone.

3 A significant positive correlation between GI, GHI and plasma testosterone was noted. Castrated dogs were injected with testosterone, 4 months after the start of oxodipine treatment, while in the non-castrated dogs, administration of oxodipine was stopped. Castration correlated with lack of GH, while testosterone injection to the same dogs was associated with an increase of GI and GHI.

4 Since it is known that testosterone receptors are present in the gingiva, it is proposed that oxodipine-induced gingival hyperplasia could be mediated by the calcium channel blocker on plasma testosterone levels.