Korean J Orthod.  2012 Apr;42(2):64-72. 10.4041/kjod.2012.42.2.64.

Response of masticatory muscles to passive stretch stimulus - from perspectives of functional appliances

• Pae EK

• KMID: 2273257
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2012.42.2.64

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to examine whether a passive stretch stimulus by means of a functional appliance induces changes in the fiber composition of masticatory muscles and whether these changes are similar to the changes in stretched limb muscle fibers by using RT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemical assays.
METHODS
Five male New Zealand White rabbits were fitted with a prefabricated inclined plane on the maxillary central incisors to force the mandible forward (- 2 mm) and downward (- 4 mm). Further, 1 hind limb was extended and constrained with a cast so that the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) was stretched when the animal used the limb. The animals were sacrificed after 1 week and the masseter, lateral pterygoid, and EDL were processed and compared with those from control animals (n = 3).
RESULTS
The stretched EDL had a significantly higher percentage of slow fibers, whereas the stretched masticatory muscles did not show changes in the composition of the major contractile proteins after 7 days.
CONCLUSIONS
The transition of fiber phenotypes in response to a stretch stimulus may take longer in the masticatory muscles than in the limb muscles.

Keyword

Extensor digitorum longus; Masticatory muscles; Myosin heavy chains; Stretch

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blotting, Western
Contractile Proteins
Extremities
Humans
Incisor
Male
Mandible
Masticatory Muscles
Muscles
Myosin Heavy Chains
Phenotype
Rabbits
Contractile Proteins
Myosin Heavy Chains

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Muscles subjected to a stretch stimulus. A, The extensor digitorum longus is found in the lower part of the hind limb. B, The deep and superficial parts of the masseter have distinctive patterns of fiber orientation; yet, both muscles stretch when the animal bites.

• 

  Figure 2 Results of the RT-PCR and western blot assays. A, The mRNA expressions of different MyHCs detected by RT-PCR assay of the stretched (+) and control (-) muscles are shown. β-actin was used as an internal control. B, The SERCA1 and SERCA2a expression levels in the deep part of the masseter and lateral pterygoid assessed by western blot assay are shown. The graph denotes the relative increase in SERCA expression intensity when the muscles were stretched. EDL, Extensor digitorum longus; MyHC, myosin heavy chain; SERCA, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase.

• 

  Figure 3 Immunohistochemical findings. A, Muscle fibers stained positively for MyHC (myosin heavy chain) I (dark color) are shown; scale bars = 50 µm. B-E, The relative MyHC compositions of the hind limb and masticatory muscles are shown. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.

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