Unilateral nasal obstruction mediates reversible morphological and phenotypic changes in masticatory muscles of growing rats.

Objective: Mouth breathing as a result of nasal obstruction affects craniofacial growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the effects of unilateral nasal obstruction and its recovery, along with the role of nitric oxide (NO) in masticatory muscle physiology.

Materials and methods: Forty-eight 4-week-old male rats were divided into control and experimental groups. The five experimental groups were subjected to left-sided nasal obstruction by suturing the external nostril, and the sutures were removed after 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 weeks to allow for varying recovery periods. We assessed morphological changes in masseter, temporalis, and digastric muscle, by examining cross-sectional area (CSA) and myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform composition of muscle fibers. Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were conducted.

Results: The SpO2, CSA, and fibers showing MHC-2b isoforms were significantly lower, while RT-PCR showed higher mRNA levels in TNF-α and nNOS, and a decrease in GLUT4 mRNA in the jaw-closing muscles in the long-term nasal obstruction groups than that in the control group.

Limitations: The study findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the functional differences between rodents and humans in terms of respiratory mechanisms.

Conclusions: Unilateral nasal obstruction affects the morphology and contractile characteristics of the rat masticatory muscles during development, with possible involvement of NO in muscle hypofunction. These changes may revert to baseline levels if the nasal obstruction is eliminated before puberty in rats.