Effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on nasopremaxillary growth under different masticatory loadings in growing mice.

It is well accepted that reduced masticatory function induced by a diet with soft physical consistency causes alterations in the craniofacial morphology in growing animals. It is assumed that these alterations are associated with reduced proliferative activity of osteoblasts on the bone surface, indicating a significant role for mechanical stimuli mediated by various local growth factors including insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Here, the effects of IGF-I on the linear growth of nasal and premaxillary bones subjected to different masticatory loadings were examined. The length of the nasal bone and the width of the premaxilla were measured. These dimensions were significantly greater in mice fed a solid diet than in mice fed a granulated diet. In animals treated with IGF-I, the nasal bone length and premaxillary width increased significantly in a subgroup receiving a solid diet, but these changes were not found in a similar group fed a granulated diet. No statistically significant differences in these dimensions were found between solid-diet mice injected with saline and granulated-diet group injected with IGF-I. It is concluded that IGF-I induces nasal and premaxillary growth, and that its effect is enhanced or accelerated by increased mechanical masticatory loading.