교근부 보툴리눔 A형 독소(Botulinum Toxin Type A) 주사가 쥐의 턱뼈 성장에 미치는 영향

Effects of Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection into Masseter Muscle on the Jaw Growth in Rats

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) has a local effect at the neuromuscular junction by blocking acetylcholine release and thus causing paralysis and atrophy of the affected muscles. In dentistry, Botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A) is used for the treatment of masseteric hypertrophy, temporomandibular disorder, and severe bruxism related neurologic disorder. We hypothesized that the muscle atrophy after BTX-A injection into masseter muscle in growing rats, could affect the jaw growth. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the BTX-A injected into the masseter muscle on the jaw growth in rats. Rats were divided into four groups(group 1; control group, group 2; saline injection group, group 3; BTX-A injection group, group 4; baseline control group). Group 4 was sacrificed at the beginning of the experiment to provide baseline values of jaw measurements. The weight, length and width of jaw in those groups were measured every weeks. This study reported that the mandibular body length, condylar length, coronoid process length, anterior region height, coronoid process height and condylar height of the jaw in BTX-A injection group were shorter than those of the control and saline injection groups(P<0.05). In conclusion, BTX-A injected into the masseter muscle may affect the undergrowth of the jaw in rats.