The effect of posterior tooth loss on the expression of type II collagen, IL-1β and VEGF in the condylar cartilage of growing rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of unilateral and bilateral loss of posterior occlusal support on the expression of type II collagen, interleukin-1β and VEGF in the condylar cartilage of growing rats.


METHODS
Thirty female Wistar rats (5 weeks old) were randomized into three groups: control, unilateral extraction of mandibular molar teeth, bilateral extraction of mandibular molar teeth. Animals were sacrificed 8 weeks after tooth extraction and the temporomandibular joints were prepared for immunohistochemical analysis.


RESULTS
Bilateral molar extraction increased the expression of interleukin-1β (P<0.01) and VEGF (P<0.01), while unilateral extraction increased the expression of interleukin-1β (P<0.05) and type II collagen (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF was higher on the extracted than on the non-extracted side (P<0.01) after unilateral extraction.


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of posterior occlusal support alters the expression of type II collagen, interleukin-1β and VEGF in the condylar cartilage of rats. The expression pattern of these proteins is different when loss of occlusal support was bilateral or unilateral, including differences between extracted and non-extracted sides.
Department of Dentistry, Potiguar University - Laurete International Universities, Natal, RN, Brazil. a.fariasneto@yahoo.com.br
Arcelino
A
Farias-Neto
Ana Paula Varela Brown
AP
Martins
Alfonso
A
Sánchez-Ayala
Abou Bakr Mahmoud
AB
Rabie
Pedro Duarte
PD
Novaes
Célia Marisa
CM
Rizzatti-Barbosa
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000378:metabolism*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D024043:Collagen Type II; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A