EFFECT OF THE α -7 NICOTINIC ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTOR AGONIST GTS-21 ON THE EFFICACY OF MAXILLARY EXPANSION IN MICE

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of the α-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist GTS-21 on the efficacy of maxillary expansion in mice. Design: We divided randomly 84 male 5-week-old C57BL/6 mice into 12 groups: the 0-day, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day, 21-day, and 28-day Expansion groups (injected with saline throughout the study); and the 0-day, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day, 21-day, and 28-day GTS-21+expansion groups (injected with GTS-21 [4 mg/kg] daily). A mouse model of maxillary arch expansion was thus established. All mice were weighed on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α around the midpalatal suture. Microcomputed tomography was used to measure the morphological indicators of maxillary expansion. Results: The body weights of mice in the Expansion group were only greater on day 14 (P < 0.05); no significant differences were observed on other days. GTS-21 was found to inhibit inflammatory factor expression (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) in the area around the maxillary palatine raphe in the mouse model of arch expansion. GTS-21 also affected measurements of the morphological indicators of maxillary expansion. Conclusions: GTS-21 was not found to have significant long-term effects on body weight; however, it inhibited the production of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1 β, IL-6), possibly reducing the inflammatory response and affecting the efficacy of maxillary expansion in mice.