Biochemical aspects of orthodontic tooth movement. I. Cyclic nucleotide and prostaglandin concentrations in tissues surrounding orthodontically treated teeth in vivo.

The objective of this study was to extract and assay cyclic nucleotides and prostaglandins from tissues surrounding orthodontically treated canines in cats. Seven groups of three to five female cats were treated by 80 g tipping force to one maxillary canine for 0 to 28 days. Tissue samples were removed from sites of compression and tension around treated teeth, and from the corresponding control sites. Cyclic nucleotides and prostaglandins were simultaneously extracted by a solvent system at 0 to -5 degrees C. A portion of the aqueous fraction was used for cAMP assay by a binding protein method; cGMP was purified by column chromatography and measured by radioimmunoassay. The solvent fraction was dried, reconstituted with assay buffer, and each of the prostaglandins measured by radioimmunoassay. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences between summary control and treated sites at each of the time periods studied. However, when interactions at secondary and tertiary levels were considered (such as tension and compression, position [apical-gingival sites] of tissue sample, and jaws), significant differences were found in PGE, cAMP, and PGF2 alpha values. These results demonstrate that alterations in the levels of each of these substances in tissues surrounding teeth may be brought about by long-term applications of orthodontic force in vivo. The method of tissue sampling, however, does not permit measurement of the levels of these substances in target cells alone, thus diluting the acute response that may have occurred in these cells.