Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the masseter muscle on craniofacial growth and development by injecting botulinum neurotoxin to produce masseter muscle atrophy. Ten male Wistar rats (30 days old) received a botulinum neurotoxin injection in the masseter muscle on 1 side and normal saline on the other side; another 3 rats received no injection and served as the control group. All rats were sacrificed at 75 days of age. The masseter muscles were dissected and weighed, and anthropometric measurements were made directly on dried rat skulls. The results showed that the masseter muscle injected with botulinum neurotoxin was significantly smaller than that without an injection. The craniofacial structures directly attached to the masseter muscle were significantly smaller on the side which received the botulinum neurotoxin injection compared to that which received a normal saline injection. Results of our study suggest that atrophy of the masseter muscle may alter craniofacial growth and development.
| Translated title of the contribution | Effects of an Injection of Botulinum Neurotoxin into the Masseter Muscle on Craniofacial Growth and Development in Rats |
|---|---|
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Pages (from-to) | 231-239 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | 中華牙醫學雜誌（中文版） |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
Keywords
- botulinum neurotoxin
- masseter muscle
- muscle atrophy
- craniofacial bone
- growth and development