RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of longterm and lower oral inoculation with Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) on the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knocked out (ApoE(-/-)) mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six-week-old male ApoE(-/-) mice were inoculated orally with 0.1 ml live Pg(10(13)/L) or bouillon culture-medium quintic per week for 15 consecutive weeks, altogether 75 times of inoculations. The lesion area of atherosclerosis in the aortic tree was measured by en face quantification by red oil O staining method. The atherosclerotic lesion was examined by histopathology. The levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 22 weeks after inoculation, the mean atherosclerotic lesion area in inoculated mice was (98 363.68 ± 12 043.00) µm(2), which was significantly greater than that in noninoculated mice, which was (62 985.06 ± 7419.64) µm(2) (P = 0.035).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Longterm lower oral inoculation of Pg can accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knocked out mice.</p>