Effects of nitric oxide in orthodontic tooth movement in rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in orthodontic tooth movement in rats. Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used as NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, and nitro-L-arginine (NLA) was used as NOS precursor. Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 equal groups, and each group was divided into 3 subgroups. In the first 8 subgroups, 20 g of force was applied to the maxillary incisors with a spring. NLA was administered in the first 3 subgroups at 10(-4), 10(-5) and 10(-6) mol/L (20 microL/12 hours), respectively. L-NAME was administered in the next 3 subgroups with the same order, amount, and prescription. The last 3 subgroups were evaluated as control groups; in the seventh subgroup, 0.9% NaCl (saline solution) was injected (20 microL/12 hours). Only the force was administered in the eighth subgroup, and no chemical solution or orthodontic force was used in the last subgroup. The rats were killed on the fifth day of the experiment. Their premaxillae were dissected, and tissue sections were obtained from the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the incisor roots. Multinuclear osteoclasts, Howship's lacunae, capillary vascularization, and orthodontic tooth movement were significantly increased in the NLA groups compared with the L-NAME and control groups.