This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Su, M. Articles by Lewis, J.E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Su, M. Articles by Lewis, J.E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Expression of Connexin 43 in Rat Mandibular Bone and Periodontal Ligament (PDL) Cells during Experimental Tooth Movement

Department of Oral Biology, Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA

J.L. Borke

Department of Oral Biology, Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA

H.J. Donahue

Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA, Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA

Z. Li

Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA

N.M. Warshawsky

Department of Oral Biology, University of Illinois, College of Dentistry, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA

C.M. Russell

Office of Biostatistics, Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA

J.E. Lewis

Department of Oral Biology, Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA

Bone remodeling in response to force requires the coordinated action of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, and periodontal ligament cells. Coordination among these cells may be mediated, in part, by cell-to-cell communication via gap junctions. This study tests the hypothesis that the regulation of expression of connexin 43, a gap junction protein, is part of the transduction mechanism between force as applied to bone during orthodontic tooth movement and bone remodeling. To test this hypothesis, we examined connexin 43 expression in a rat model system of experimental tooth movement. To establish the model, we extracted maxillary first molars to initiate supra-eruption of opposing mandibular molars. The rats were killed at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hrs post-extraction. The mandibles were removed, demineralized, and embedded in paraffin. To localize connexin 43 protein and mRNA, we used a specific antibody for immunohistochemistry and a specific cDNA probe for in situ hybridization. Western and Northern blot analyses were used to assess the specificity of the connexin 43 antibody and cDNA probe, respectively. We found connexin 43 protein expressed by osteoclasts (++++) and periodontal ligament cells (+++) in compression zones, and by osteoblasts (++++) and osteocytes (++++) in tension zones of the periodontal ligament. In addition, connexin 43 mRNA was found in some bone and periodontal ligament cells. Connexin 43 protein was found, by densitometric analysis, to be higher in the periodontal ligament after exposure to force compared with controls (P < 0.001). The number of osteocytes expressing connexin 43 48 hrs after molar extraction was also significantly greater in bone subjected to tension when compared with controls (P < 0.001). The results of this study support the hypothesis that connexin 43 plays a role in the coordination of events during experimentally induced alveolar bone remodeling.

Key Words: connexin 43 • bone • PDL • orthodontics.

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 76, No. 7, 1357-1366 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345970760070501


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C.-H. CHIEN, H. SAKAGAMI, M. KOUHARA, A. SASAKI, K. MATSUMOTO, and H. KANEGAE Effect of Simulated Orthodontic Forces on Fluoride-induced Cytotoxicity in MC3T3-E1 Osteoblast-like Cells In Vivo, March 1, 2009; 23(2): 259 - 265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. F. Taylor, M. M. Saunders, D. L. Shingle, J. M. Cimbala, Z. Zhou, and H. J. Donahue Mechanically stimulated osteocytes regulate osteoblastic activity via gap junctions Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, January 1, 2007; 292(1): C545 - C552. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Saunders, J. You, J. E. Trosko, H. Yamasaki, Z. Li, H. J. Donahue, and C. R. Jacobs Gap junctions and fluid flow response in MC3T3-E1 cells Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, December 1, 2001; 281(6): C1917 - C1925. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]