[Changes in expression of gelatinase in young rat condylar cartilage during functional mandibular advancement].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes in expression of gelatinase (MMP-2, MMP-9) in young rat condylar cartilage during functional mandibular advancement.


METHODS
Sixty male 5-week old SD rats were divided into experimental and control groups. The mimic functional appliances were used in experimental group rats. The animals were sacrificed after 1, 2, 4 weeks. The immunoreactivity of gelatinase was detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In normal mandibular condylar cartilage, the immunoreactivity of MMP-2 was rather strong, the immunoreactivity of MMP-9 was very weak. Following functional mandibular advancement, the expression of MMP-9 was significantly increased (P < 0.01), but immunoreactivity of MMP-2 had no significant changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Gelatinase plays an important role in the adaptive remondling of young rat condylar cartilage during functional mandibular advancement.
Wang
Yan-Min
YM
Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Wang
Sheng-Guo
SG
Zhou
Li
L
Chen
Yang-Xi
YX
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage; D018093:Gelatinases; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement; D008335:Mandibular Condyle; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D018093:Gelatinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2