Histological changes and changes in the myosin mRNA content of the porcine masticatory muscles after masseter treatment with botulinum toxin A.
OBJECTIVE
Botulinum toxin A (Botox) is increasingly used for treatment of muscle hyperfunction. For a better understanding of the possible morphologic and chewing changes in patients induced by a therapy with Botox, muscle fiber and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) mRNA alterations were examined in this animal study.


METHODS
The investigation was carried out on 14-week-old pigs (seven treated animals, eight controls; calculated animal size with a power of 0.5). To initialise the total immobilisation of the right masseter, the Botox injection was distributed into ten areas. After a 56-day period, muscle tissue was taken from the left and right side of the masseter (three regions), temporal (two regions), medial pterygoid and geniohyoid muscles using a standardized method. The muscle fiber cross sections were examined immunohistochemically. Fiber staining was accomplished with antibodies to specific MyHC isoforms. The MyHC mRNA changes were analysed using real-time RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Muscles adapt to such stress by changing fiber types and MyHC mRNA content. Paralysed masseters display atrophic changes while other masticatory muscles show hypertrophic changes. The results indicated that the typical distributions of type IIa und IIb fiber types in masticatory muscles were increased in the masseter muscles due to Botox application. On the other hand, the masseters without Botox in the treated group showed a significant increase of type I MyHC.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of Botox may lead to uncontrolled structural changes in affected and unaffected muscles.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of muscle hypertrophy with Botox may cause muscle imbalance.
Department of Orthodontics, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. Tomasz.Gedrange@uniklinikum-dresden.de
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T
Gedrange
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Gredes
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A
Spassov
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Mai
D U
DU
Kuhn
M
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Dominiak
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Kunert-Keil
D000818:Animals; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000187:drug effects*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D024744:Skeletal Muscle Myosins / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A; D024744:Skeletal Muscle Myosins; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains