Evaluation of the inflammatory response of the subcutaneous conjunctive of mice against some endodontic irrigations solutions

Introduction: Sodium hypochlorite has been used as an endodontic irrigant since 1936, when Walker used it as Sodium Chlorine. Since then it has became the most well acceptable endodontic irrigant. During the last few years many studies have reported the importance of pH control. Objective: This study evaluates the inflammatory response of some endodontic irrigations solutions in the subcutaneous connective tissue of mice. Material and methods: Thirty-six mice were obtained from the Biomedical Sciences Institute at the University of S o Paulo. Their backs were divided into four quadrants and each quadrant was injured with an 8 mm punch. Three of these wounds were submitted to differents solutions, while the fourth was used as a control. This experiment was done in triplicate. After the irrigation of the wounds, the mice were sacrificed at 3, 7 and 14 days. The samples were fixed on 10% formalin and histologically analyzed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: At 14 days all wounds were covered with epithelium with a mild inflammatory infiltrate in the subjacent connective tissue, except for the group that employed 5% sodium hypochlorite at pH 11. Conclusion: The greatest the pH and concentration of sodium hypochlorite solutions, the most toxic they are.