Activity changes in the open-field test related to loss of rat molar occlusal support

• Published in: Journal of Osaka Dental University Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 83 - 88
• Main Authors: Okuda, Keiji, Narita, Mitsutoshi, Yamamoto, Satsuki, Inoue, Hiroshi, Sakuma, Yasushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Osaka Odontological Society 2004
• Subjects: Emotional behavior; Occlusal support; Open-field test; Rat
• ISSN: 0475-2058; 2189-6488
• DOI: 10.18905/jodu.38.2_83

We investigated the influence of various types of loss of molar occlusal support on exploratory and emotional behavior of seven-week-old rats. The animals were divided into four groups : one with all maxillary molars extracted, one with only unilateral maxillary molars extracted, one with the maxillary first and second molars extracted, and a control group where anesthesia was performed without tooth extraction. An open-field test, where the animals were used to investigate behavioral changes, was performed 1, 5, and 8 weeks after tooth extraction. There were no changes in exploratory or emotional behaviors among the 4 groups 1, 5, and 8 weeks after tooth extraction. These results suggest that the loss of molar occlusal support had no influence on activity or emotions of the rats 8 weeks after tooth extraction. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2004; 38: 83-88)