Impact of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 probiotic in the prevention of periodontitis associated with immunosuppression

Background This study evaluated the effects of the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (HN019) in the development of experimental periodontitis (EP) in rats submitted to chemotherapy (5‐fluorouracil [5FU]). Methods Eighty male rats were divided into the following groups: control (C); treated with 5FU (60 mg/kg at day 30 and 40 mg/kg at day 32); treated with probiotic (HN019) (daily, for 44 days, starting at day 0); treatment with 5FU and probiotic (5FU‐HN019); only EP (EP) (ligature placed on lower first molars at day 30, maintained for 14 days); EP and treatment with 5FU (EP‐5FU); EP and treatment with probiotic (EP‐HN019); and EP and treatment with 5FU and probiotic (EP‐5FU‐HN019). Euthanasia occurred at day 44. Morphometric, histomorphometric, microtomographic, immunohistochemical, immunoenzymatic, and gene expressions analyses were performed. The data obtained were statistically analyzed (p