Differential expression of myosin heavy-chain mRNA in muscles of mastication during functional advancement of the mandible in pigs

Influence of botulinum toxin A on craniofacial morphology after injection into the right masseter muscle of dystrophin deficient (mdx-) mice

BACKGROUND

Severe craniofacial and dental abnormalities, typical for patients with progressive Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), are an exellcent demonstration of Melvin L. Moss "functional matrix theory", highlighting the influence of muscle tissue on craniofacial growth and morphology. However, the currently best approved animal model for investigation of this interplay is the mdx-mouse, which offers only a limited time window for research, due to the ability of muscle regeneration, in contrast to the human course of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate craniofacial morphology after BTX-A induced muscle paralysis in C57Bl- and mdx-mice, to prove the suitability of BTX-A intervention to inhibit muscle regeneration in mdx-mice and thus, mimicking the human course of the DMD disease.

METHODS

Paralysis of the right masseter muscle was induced in 100 days old C57Bl- and mdx-mice by a single specific intramuscular BTX-A injection. Mice skulls were obtained at 21 days and 42 days after BTX-A injection and 3D radiological evaluation was performed in order to measure various craniofacial dimensions in the sagittal, transversal and vertical plane. Statstical analysis were performed using SigmaStat®Version 3.5. In case of normal distribution, unpaired t-test and otherwise the Mann-Whitney-U test was applied. A statistical significance was given in case of p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

In contrast to C57Bl-mice, in mdx-mice, three weeks after BTX-A treatment a significant decrease of skull dimensions was noted in most of the measurements followed by a significant increase at the second investigation period.

CONCLUSIONS

BTX-A can induce changes in craniofacial morphology and presumably partially inhibit muscle regeneration in mdx-mice, but cannot completely intensify craniofacial effects elicited by dystrophy. Further research is necessary in order to fully understand muscle-bone interplay after BTX-A injection into dystrophic muscles.

Functional and molecular outcomes of the human masticatory muscles

The masticatory muscles achieve a broad range of different activities such as chewing, sucking, swallowing, and speech. In order to accomplish these duties, masticatory muscles have a unique and heterogeneous structure and fiber composition, enabling them to produce their strength and contraction speed largely dependent on their motor units and myosin proteins that can change in response to genetic and environmental factors. Human masticatory muscles express unique myosin isoforms, including a combination of thick fibers, expressing myosin light chains (MyLC) and myosin class I and II heavy chains (MyHC) -IIA, -IIX, α-cardiac, embryonic and neonatal and thin fibers, respectively. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the importance of fiber-type diversity in masticatory muscles versus supra- and infrahyoid muscles, and versus limb and trunk muscles. We also highlight new information regarding the adaptive response and specific genetic variations of muscle fibers on the functional significance of the masticatory muscles, which influences craniofacial characteristics, malocclusions, or asymmetry. These findings may offer future possibilities for the prevention of craniofacial growth disturbances.

X-ray Microanalysis of Elements in the Masticatory Muscle after Paresis of the Right Masseter

Muscle activity and function appear to be related to ionic concentrations in the muscle. We investigated whether muscle paresis induced by injection of Botulinum toxin A (Botox) in 16-week-old pigs over a 56-day period is associated with ionic changes in the affected muscles. Tissue samples were taken from the masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and geniohyoid muscles by a standardized method and used for energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis in an environmental scanning electron microscope. The largest increase in Na+ was measured in the right and left sides of the masseter muscle in treated animals. Additionally, a significant elevation of Na+ was measured in the anterior part of the temporalis muscle and in the pterygoid muscle (P < 0.05). In temporalis and pterygoid muscles, an increase in sulfur in both sides of treated pigs’ heads was observed. Botox® has an indirect impact on ion concentrations, resulting in changes in muscle functional capacity and adaptive compensation of paretic muscle function by other muscles.

Early effect of Botox-A injection into the masseter muscle of rats: functional and histological evaluation

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change of food intake after different dosages of botulinum toxin A (BTX) injection in the animal model. Additionally, the dimensional and histological change at 14 days after BTX injection was also evaluated.

Methods

The comparative study was performed using the BTX injection model in rats (n = 5 for each group). Group 1 was the saline-injected group. Group 2 was the 5-unit BTX-injection group to each masseter muscle. Group 3 was the 10-unit BTX-injection group to each masseter muscle. Food intake rates and body weight were checked daily before and after BTX injection until 10 days. All animals were sacrificed at 14 days after BTX injection, and the specimens underwent hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemical staining for myosin type II (MYH2).

Results

The recovery of food intake in groups 2 and 3 decreased significantly compared with group 1 from day 2 to day 7 and day 9 after injection (p < 0.05). The BTX-treated masseter muscles were significantly smaller than those in group 1 (p = 0.015). The immunohistochemical findings demonstrated that the expression of MYH2 was significantly higher in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

BTX injection to the masseter muscle in rats demonstrated short food-intake-rate reduction with recovery until 10 days after injection. The thickness of the masseter muscle and MYH2 expression were significantly changed according to the injected dose of BTX.

WITHDRAWN: Age-dependent muscle dystrophy related changes of craniofacial morphology in mdx mice

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

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.

Differential expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms in the masticatory muscles of dystrophin-deficient mice

The dystrophin-deficient mouse (mdx) is a homologue animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and is characterized by slowly progressive muscle weakness accompanied by changes in myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition. It is likely that the masticatory muscles undergo similar changes. The aim of this study was to examine the masticatory muscles (masseter, temporal, tongue, and soleus) of 100-day-old mdx and control mice (n = 8-10), and the fibre type distribution (by immunohistochemistry) as well as the expression of the corresponding MyHC messenger RNA (mRNA) (protein and mRNA expression, using Western blot or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)). Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis revealed that the masticatory muscles in the control and mdx mice consisted mainly of type 2 fibres, whereas soleus muscle consisted of both type 1 and 2 fibres. In the masseter muscle, the mRNA in mdx mice was not different from that found in the controls. However, the mRNA content of the MyHC-2b isoform in mdx mice was lower in comparison with the controls in the temporal muscle [11.9 versus 36.9 per cent; P < 0.01; mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM), Student's unpaired t-test], as well as in the tongue muscle (65.7 versus 73.8 per cent; P < 0.05). Similarly, the content of MyHC-2x isoforms in mdx tongue muscle was lower than in the controls (25.9 versus 30.8 per cent; P < 0.05). The observed down-regulation of the MyHC-2x and MyHC-2b mRNA in the masticatory muscles of mdx mice may lead to changed fibre type composition. The different MyHC gene expression in mdx mice masticatory muscles may be seen as an adaptive mechanism to muscular dystrophy.

The adaptive response of jaw muscles to varying functional demands

Jaw muscles are versatile entities that are able to adapt their anatomical characteristics, such as size, cross-sectional area, and fibre properties, to altered functional demands. The dynamic nature of muscle fibres allows them to change their phenotype to optimize the required contractile function while minimizing energy use. Changes in these anatomical parameters are associated with changes in neuromuscular activity as the pattern of muscle activation by the central nervous system plays an important role in the modulation of muscle properties. This review summarizes the adaptive response of jaw muscles to various stimuli or perturbations in the orofacial system and addresses general changes in muscles as they adapt, specific adaptive changes in jaw muscles under various physiologic and pathologic conditions, and their adaptive response to non-surgical and surgical therapeutic interventions. Although the jaw muscles are used concertedly in the masticatory system, their adaptive changes are not always uniform and vary with the nature, intensity, and duration of the stimulus. In general, stretch, increases neuromuscular activity, and resistance training result in hypertrophy, elicits increases in mitochondrial content and cross-sectional area of the fibres, and may change the fibre-type composition of the muscle towards a larger percentage of slow-type fibres. In contrast, changes in the opposite direction occur when neuromuscular activity is reduced, the muscle is immobilized in a shortened position, or paralysed. The broad range of stimuli that affect the properties of jaw muscles might help explain the large variability in the anatomical and physiological characteristics found among individuals, muscles, and muscle portions.

Myosin proteins identified from masseter muscle using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction--a pilot study of the relevance to orthodontics

There is a clearly established relationship between masticatory muscle structure and facial form. Human studies in this area, however, have been limited, especially in consideration of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) family of contractile proteins. The aim of this pilot study was to assess if differences were detectable between genotype with respect to MyHC isoforms and the vertical facial phenotype in a sample of nine Caucasian female patients, age range 18-49 years, using a novel rapid technique. Masseter muscle biopsies were taken from patients with a range of vertical facial form. The levels of expression of the MyHC isoform genes MYH 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 were compared with the expression in a female calibrator patient aged 23 years with normal vertical facial form, using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that there were distinct differences in gene expression between patients with a wide range of variation although changes in MYH1 were consistent with one cephalometric variable, the maxillo-mandibular angle. The full procedure, from start to finish, can be completed within half a day. Rapid genotyping of patients in this way could reveal important information of relevance to treatment. This technology has potential as a diagnostic and prognostic aid when considering correction of certain malocclusions.

Histological and histomorphometric investigation of the condylar cartilage of juvenile pigs after anterior mandibular displacement

The condylar cartilage of the mandible is considered a secondary growth center and represents a joint cartilage different from other cartilage structures regarding its histological structure, its histochemical and immunohistochemical properties and its growth pattern. This study aimed to histologically and histomorphometrically investigate the condylar cartilage after anterior mandibular displacement similar to functional orthopedic treatment. A total of 12 pigs (sus scrofa domesticus) aged 10 weeks were divided into an experimental group and a control group comprising 6 animals each. The experimental animals were provided bilaterally with synthetic occlusal build-ups in the posterior area which induced anterior displacement of the mandible in terminal occlusion. After 4 weeks, the temporomandibular structures were removed en bloc and the condylar cartilage was analyzed histologically and histomorphometrically. As a result, the experimental animals displayed a significantly increased total cartilage thickness of the posterocranial mandibular condyle which was primarily caused by an increase in thickness of the hypertrophic and chondogenic layers. Similarly, the proliferative layer showed a significant increase, whereas significant differences in thickness were absent in the articular layer. Increased cell proliferation was not observed in the experimental animals as compared to the controls. The changes found in the condylar cartilage area suggest that the zonal structure of the condylar cartilage may be modified by an altered spatial relationship between the mandibular condyle and the glenoid fossa.

Change of mRNA amount of myosin heavy chain in masseter muscle after orthognathic surgery of patients with malocclusion

INTRODUCTION

Surgical correction of malocclusion changes the force to moment ratio of masticatory muscles inserting at the mandible caused by shortening, lengthening and rotation of the bone following osteotomy. During muscle adaptation the expression of mRNA for the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) of type I and type II fibres may be changed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The adaptation of the masseter muscle was investigated at the mRNA level in 10 patients 6 months after orthognathic surgery in the mandible. The competitive polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) is a suitable method for quantification of MyHC mRNA. For application of this minimal invasive method an amount of 35 mg muscle tissue was sufficient.

RESULTS

6 month postoperatively there was a deficiency of about 87% of MyHC mRNA for fibre type I and II in both groups of patients. The deficiency in patients with mesial position of the mandible was higher but not significant different to patients with distal malocclusion.

CONCLUSION

Patients should use the postoperative interval for training their masticatory muscles. This improves the stability of treatment result and prevents relapse.

A porcine model of acute quadriplegic myopathy: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms underlying acute quadriplegic myopathy (AQM) are poorly understood, partly as a result of the fact that patients are generally diagnosed at a late stage of the disease. Accordingly, there is a need for relevant experimental animal models aimed at identifying underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Pigs were mechanically ventilated and exposed to various combinations of agents, i.e. pharmacological neuromuscular blockade, corticosteroids and/or sepsis, for a period of 5 days. Electromyography and myofibrillar protein and mRNA expression were analysed using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), confocal microscopy, histochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS

A decreased compound muscle action potential, normal motor nerve conduction velocities, and intact sensory nerve function were observed. Messenger RNA expression, determined by real-time PCR, of the myofibrillar proteins myosin and actin decreased in spinal and cranial nerve innervated muscles, suggesting that the loss of myosin observed in AQM patients is not solely the result of myofibrillar protein degradation.

CONCLUSION

The present porcine AQM model demonstrated findings largely in accordance with results previously reported in patients and offers a feasible approach to future mechanistic studies aimed at identifying underlying mechanisms and developing improved diagnostic tests and intervention strategies.

Fiber-type composition of the human jaw muscles--(part 2) role of hybrid fibers and factors responsible for inter-individual variation

This is the second of two articles about fiber-type composition of the human jaw muscles. It reviews the functional relationship of hybrid fibers and the adaptive properties of jaw-muscle fibers. In addition, to explain inter-individual variation in fiber-type composition, we discuss these adaptive properties in relation to environmental stimuli or perturbations. The fiber-type composition of the human jaw muscles is very different from that of limb and trunk muscles. Apart from the presence of the usual type I, IIA, and IIX myosin heavy-chains (MyHC), human jaw-muscle fibers contain MyHCs that are typical for developing or cardiac muscle. In addition, much more frequently than in limb and trunk muscles, jaw-muscle fibers are hybrid, i.e., they contain more than one type of MyHC isoform. Since these fibers have contractile properties that differ from those of pure fibers, this relatively large quantity of hybrid fibers provides a mechanism that produces a very fine gradation of force and movement. The presence of hybrid fibers might also reflect the adaptive capacity of jaw-muscle fibers. The capacity for adaptation also explains the observed large inter-individual variability in fiber-type composition. Besides local influences, like the amount of muscle activation and/or stretch, more general influences, like aging and gender, also play a role in the composition of fiber types.

Regional alterations in fiber type distribution, capillary density, and blood flow after lower jaw sagittal advancement in pig masticatory muscles

Muscular remodeling is known to be a prerequisite for permanent correction of mandibular-maxillary malocclusion. The objective of this study was to clarify if an increase in type I fiber number is accompanied by an increased capillary density and improved muscular blood flow. Juvenile pigs received build-ups on the molars, which induced a protrusion of 7.6 + 1.5 mm. After 4 weeks of treatment, chronic lower jaw protrusion induced a marked muscle blood flow increase in the anterior and medial regions of the superficial part of the masseter and in the medial pterygoid muscle (P < 0.05). Furthermore, an increase in capillary density and in the amount of type I fibers was found in all regions of masticatory muscles with an increased muscle blood flow (P < 0.05). Finally, the capillary-to-fiber ratio increased (P < 0.05). Muscle blood flow and capillary density showed a strong linear correlation (r = 0.89, P < 0.01). These changes suggest a complex muscle adaptation for long-term, fatigue-resistant activity during the early corrective period of mandibular-maxillary malocclusion treatment.