Expression Of MMPs And TIMPs In Periodontal Tissues Of Rat Periodontitis Model

Objective: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) produced by resident and inflammatory cells are key mediators of connective tissue destruction in the course of periodontitis, especially the collagenases MMP-1 and MMP-8. Tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMPs) are their endogenous inhibitors. The balance between MMPs and TIMPs in periodontal tissues influences the pathogenic development. The purpose of this study was to establish different rat periodontitis model, and investigate the expression of MMP-1, MMP-8, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in periodontal tissues of rat periodontitis model at different stages of inflammation of varied severity.Methods: We established rat periodontitis model of varied severity by periodontal ligament, high-carbohydrate diet and periopathogens inoculation in several groups. At the 14^th day and 28^th day, periodontal tissue specimens were made into sections from different groups. The periodontal tissues were immunohistochemically stained by antibody of MMP-1, MMP-8, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, respectively. And the images were investigated for the expression...