Effect of enhanced masticatory force on OPG, RANKL and MGF in alveolar bone of ovariectomized rats.
Ma. Zongmin Z; Li. Shuxian S; Sun. Yuchen Y
Key Findings
- Hard, high‑force chewing raised OPG and lowered RANKL in alveolar bone, improving the OPG/RANKL balance.
- MGF protein levels in the jaw bone increased significantly with enhanced masticatory force.
- Micro‑CT showed higher bone volume, thicker trabeculae, and less separation, indicating better bone quality.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the study suggests that mechanical loading of the jaw—such as chewing tougher foods—can locally stimulate MGF and other bone‑protective pathways, potentially helping maintain oral bone health during menopause. However, the findings are limited to a rat model and focus on local bone effects, so they don’t directly translate into dosage or systemic use of MGF peptide for broader health goals.
Summary
In rats that had their ovaries removed (a model for menopause), feeding them a very hard diet that forces stronger chewing boosted the bone‑protecting protein OPG, lowered the bone‑resorbing protein RANKL, and increased the local levels of the growth factor MGF in the jaw. This led to denser, stronger jaw bone and slowed the bone loss that usually follows menopause.
Abstract
Menopause induces oral bone loss, leading to various oral diseases. Mastication importantly affects bone metabolism in the jawbone. To analyze the effect of enhanced masticatory force on osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), and mechano-growth factor (MGF) in alveolar bone of ovariectomized rats and to study the mechanics mechanism of the alveolar bone of ovariectomized rats response to enhanced masticatory force. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation group (fat around the removed ovary + normal hard diet), model group (ovariectomy + normal hard diet), and experimental group (ovariectomy + high hard diet). It was a 2-month experiment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected serum estradiol (E2), osteocalcin (BGP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in rats. Bone histomorphometric indices in the third molar region of maxilla were detected by micro-CT; protein expressions of OPG, RANKL, and MGF in the third molar region of maxilla was detected by Western blot; and gene expression of OPG, RANKL, and MGF in the third molar region of maxilla was detected by Quantitative Real-Time PCR. Comparing with model group, serum E2 in experimental group increased but not significantly, serum BGP and serum ALP in experimental group decreased but not significantly, OPG in experimental group in alveolar bone increased significantly, RANKL in experimental group in alveolar bone decreased significantly, RANKL/OPG ratio in experimental group decreased significantly, MGF in experimental group in alveolar bone increased significantly, bone volume to total volume fraction increased significantly in experimental group, trabecular thickness increased significantly in experimental group, and trabecular separation decreased significantly in experimental group. Enhanced masticatory force affected the expression of OPG, RANKL, and MGF in alveolar bone of ovariectomized rats, improved the quality of jaw bone of ovariectomized rats, and delayed oral bone loss by ovariectomy.
Study Information
pubmed
2020
2020-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
10.1590/1678-7757-2019-0409
7
43