The effect of experimental occlusal interferences on nerve growth factor levels in periodontal tissues.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that experimental occlusal interferences increase the nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in periodontal tissues and cause an up-regulation of preprotachykinin-A (PPTA) mRNA.


BACKGROUND
NGF is related to hyperalgesia and inflammation. PPTA mRNA, a primer of substance P, is a possible factor in the aetiology of pain.


METHODS
Experimental interferences were created by placing inlays in the right maxillary molars of 15 dogs. The right side molars formed the experimental group. The left side molars served as controls. Three dogs with cavities prepared without changing the occlusion formed a sham group. The dogs in the first group were sacrificed, 3 at each time, after 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days. The sham group was sacrificed after 14 days. The levels of NGF in periodontal tissues and PPTA mRNA in the trigeminal ganglions were detected by ELISA and TR-PCR. Comparisons were made with paired t-tests and a multivariate MANOVA test.


RESULTS
On all measurement days, there were higher levels of NGF mRNA, PPTA mRNA, and NGF on the experimental than on the control side in 14 of 15 comparisons and in the sham group. NGF production in periodontium was time-dependent. No differences in NGF protein levels were observed between the control and the sham groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results which need confirmation in further tests are of clinical interest. They indicate that occlusal experimental interferences may be an etiologic factor in oral facial pain by increasing mRNA and NGF protein levels in the periodontal tissues.
Dong
Yan
Y
Department of Oral Medicine, College of Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, 88, Jiefang Road, Hang zhou, China. wenqing_66@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Xin Mu
XM
Liu
Hong Chen
HC
Widmalm
Sven E
SE
D000818:Animals; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011897:Random Allocation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015320:Tachykinins; C044206:preprotachykinin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor