Milk basic protein increases alveolar bone formation in rat experimental periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
It is conceivable that the active components extracted from milk whey protein (i.e. milk basic protein, MBP) stimulate bone formation and suppress bone resorption. Periodontitis is characterized by excessive alveolar bone resorption. We examined whether milk basic protein could recover alveolar bone loss in rat experimental periodontitis.


METHODS
A nylon ligature was placed around the cervix of molars in 8-wk-old male Fischer rats for 20 d. Then, the ligature was removed and a powder diet containing 0.2 or 1.0% milk basic protein was provided daily for another 45-90 d. On days 45 and 90, the maxillae were extracted and analyzed using microcomputerized tomography (micro-CT), followed by histological analysis.


RESULTS
Micro-CT images showed that alveolar bone resorption was severely induced around the molar by the 20-d ligature procedure. Treatment with high-dose milk basic protein (1.0%) clearly recovered ligature-induced alveolar bone resorption on days 45 and 90, whereas low-dose milk basic protein (0.2%) did not show such a clear effect. Histological examination clarified that the osteoid thickness of alveolar bone was dose dependently increased by milk basic protein treatment for 90 d.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that a systemic administration of milk basic protein may be effective for the recovery of alveolar bone loss in periodontitis.
Seto
H
H
Department of Periodontology and Endodontology, Oral and Maxillofacial Dentistry, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. seto@0648.net
Toba
Y
Y
Takada
Y
Y
Kawakami
H
H
Ohba
H
H
Hama
H
H
Horibe
M
M
Nagata
T
T
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D000067816:Whey Proteins
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D000067816:Whey Proteins