OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of central synaptic plasticity on pain induced by experimental tooth movement and to analyzethe expression of protein kinases Mζ (PKMζ) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) after applying different magnitude of orthodontic force.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (200-250 g) were used in this study. Orthodontic tooth movement devices were placed on the teeth in the experimental group, and different orthodontic forces (0.39, 0.78, 1.17 N) were applied to move the maxillary first molars, respectively. The same mechanical devices were placed on the teeth in sham-treated group and no orthodontic force was applied. No orthodontic procedure was applied in blank control group. The average time spent on mouth- wiping behavior in each group was recorded after experimental tooth movement. Brain tissue of the anterior cingulate cortex was isolated on day 3 after experiment, and the expression level of PKMζ was analyzed with the method of immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay. ζ-pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptide (ZIP), a selective inhibitor for PKMζ, was injected into ACC on day 3 after experimental tooth movement, and the effects of ZIP on mouth-wiping behavior were evaluated.

RESULTSNo statistical difference was found between the blank control group and the sham- treated group in the average time spent on mouth-wiping, value of A and expression level of PKMζ (P > 0.05). Compared with the sham-treated group and blank control group, the average time of mouth-wiping behavior [(58.6±6.9), (66.3±7.8), (78.9±8.7) s], value of A (4 569±454, 6 850±365, 8 294±558) and expression level of PKMζ [(0.32±0.02), (0.34±0.02), (0.36±0.02) mg/L] in 0.39, 0.78, 1.17 N force group were found to be up-regulated with the increase of orthodontic force (P < 0.05). LSD test in three experimental sub-group showed statistical difference (P < 0.05). After microinjection of ZIP, the average time spent on mouth-wiping behavior significantly decreased (P < 0.01), while microinjecting saline did not change rats' mouth-wiping behavior (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMore pain caused by increased orthodontic force maybe due to the up-regulation of PKMζ in the anterior cingulate cortex.