The Effect of Vitamin A on Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Rats
Advisor : Dr. Ahmad Sodagar Consultant: Dr. Pouria Motahhari , Dr. Mohammad Hossein Ghahramani Written By: Dr. Samira Zahedpasha School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Registration No: 4425 Abstract Orthodontic tooth movement and the related alveolar bone remodeling are achieved by osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic new bone formation. Vitamin A, the first discovered and characterized fat – soluble vitamin, has essential roles in vision, bone, and muscle growth. It has been shown that administration of excess vitamin A has profound effects on bone. This vitamin can induce bone degradation by stimulating the formation of mature osteoclasts from precursors, and it can promote the maturation of cells of osteoblastic lineage. This study was designed to determine the effect of vitamin A on orthodontic tooth movement in rat for the first time. Orthodontic tooth movement was measured at the start and finally at the end of the study with a filler gauge. Anesthetizing the animals, blood samples were taken from the heart, and then the level of serum alkaline phosphatase was evaluated. After cervical dislocation, the maxillary sections were fixed and stained, using H&E staining procedures. Histopathological assessments showed no difference between vitamin A-treated and control groups. The number of osteoclasts, cementoclasts, PDL width, root resorption, and serum alkaline phosphatase was not different between groups. Based on the results of this study, we found that, vitamin A despite its reported effects on bone tissue, did not accelerate alveolar bone remodeling and therefore did not modify the orthodontic tooth movement. It can be suggested to perform other researches on the effect of vitamin Aon orthodontic tooth movement with longer time period and different forms and doses of this vitamin. | 
