OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of systematic administration of simvastatin on the bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in the periodontal tissue after rat tooth movement and on the relapse of tooth movement.

METHODSOrthodontic tooth movement of upper first molar was performed in 32 rats with coil spring for 21 days. The 32 rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: negative control group (isotonic saline) and three experimental groups (2.5 mg x kg(-1), 5.0 mg x kg(-1) and 10.0 mg x kg(-1)). The simvastatin started to be administered to the experimental groups 1 day before appliances were removed, and once a day there after for 4 weeks. The negative control group received the isotonic saline only. The interdental distance between the first and second maxillary molars were measured, when appliances were removed, and 1 week and 4 weeks after that. After the rats were sacrificed, sections of first maxillary molar and periodontal tissue were studied by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe number and percentage of relapse was lower in the three experimental groups than in the negative control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The lower dose was given, the less relapse there was, with the lowerest dose resulting in lowest percentage of relapse (26.81% and 53.38%). BMP-2 expression in experimental groups was higher than in the negative control group, with the lowerest dose group showing the highest expression (P < 0.001). The BMP-2 expression on the tension side was slightly stronger than that on the compression side (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSystemic administration of simvastatin could decrease the extent of relapse of the orthodontic-moved tooth in rat, and the lower-dose of simvastatin seemed more effective. The possible mechanism for this may be that simvastatin functions by increasing the expression of BMP-2 in the periodontal tissue, accelerating the osteoblast activity and promoting bone formation.