start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=56 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=35 end-page=40 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2011 dt-pub=201101 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Occlusal disharmony induces BDNF level in rat submandibular gland en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is produced in rat submandibular gland, is one of the most abundant neurotrophins in the central nervous system. It is generally accepted that occlusal disharmony causes stress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether occlusal disharmony-induced chronic stress affects BDNF levels and morphology in rat submandibular gland. Design: Eight wks old male Wistar rats (n = 21) were randomly divided into three groups of 7 rats. In a control (C) group, the rats received no treatment for 8 wks. In a molar cusp-less (OD) group, maxillary molar cusps were cut off with a dental turbine at baseline and kept for 8 wks. In a molar cusp-less + recovered cusp (OR) group, maxillary molar cusps were cut off and then were recovered after 4 wks using resin material. After the experimental period, expression of BDNF mRNA and protein as well as histological findings were evaluated in the submandibular glands. The comparisons between the groups were made using the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. Results: The OD group showed a significant increase in submandibular gland BDNF mRNA and protein expression after 8 wks, and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone levels increased in a time-dependent manner. There were no significant differences in BDNF expression in the submandibular glands and in levels of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone between the OR and C groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that psychological stress induced by occlusal disharmony reversibly induces BDNF expression in the rat submandibular gland. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IrieKoichiro en-aut-sei=Irie en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=EkuniDaisuke en-aut-sei=Ekuni en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomofujiTakaaki en-aut-sei=Tomofuji en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AzumaTetsuji en-aut-sei=Azuma en-aut-mei=Tetsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=EndoYasumasa en-aut-sei=Endo en-aut-mei=Yasumasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasuyamaKenta en-aut-sei=Kasuyama en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaManabu en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences en-keyword=Occlusal disharmony kn-keyword=Occlusal disharmony en-keyword=Brain-derived neurotrophic factor kn-keyword=Brain-derived neurotrophic factor en-keyword=Submandibular gland kn-keyword=Submandibular gland en-keyword=Stress kn-keyword=Stress END