EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, cilt.123, sa.6, ss.432-438, 2015 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the metabolic indicators of masticatory muscles in an animal model. A total of 16 male Wistar rats were used. To induce MetS, 10 rats were fed with standard rat chow and 32% sucrose solution ad libitum for 16 wk. Six rats fed with standard rat chow and water ad libitum formed the control group. All rats were killed at week 16, and the right superficial masseter muscles were harvested. Metabolic indicators of masticatory muscle metabolism, including antioxidant enzyme activities, ion transport ATPase activities, and the levels of macro and trace elements, were determined in the muscles. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities were significantly decreased by 32%, 26%, 33%, and 16%, respectively, in the MetS group. Na+/K+-ATPase activity was significantly decreased in the MetS group by 54% compared with the control group. The levels of chromium and selenium were significantly decreased, and the level of copper was increased, in the MetS group compared with the control group. These results show that significant alterations occurred in antioxidant defense mechanisms, ion transport mechanisms, and trace element levels of masseter muscles in MetS.