Purpose: To investigate the expression of HIF-1α in the genioglossus associated with induced bilateral intermittent nasal obstruction in young rats.
Methods: Thirty 4-week-old SD rats were employed and equally divided into 3 groups. In group A, both nostrils were occluded by nose plugs. In group B, the right nostril was occluded. In group C, no obstruction of the nose was performed as control group. The obstruction time was from 8 am to 12 am everyday, and the period was 21 d and 55 d. The genioglossus was taken for HE, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α. The data was analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software package.
Results: The rats were sacrificed at the 21th day and 55th day, respectively. The expression of HIF-1α in group A was significantly higher than that in group B and group C, and became stronger with the increasing of obstruction time.
Conclusions: Oral breathing caused by bilateral intermittent nasal obstruction in young rats results in overexpression of HIF-1α in the genioglossus. Supported by Research Fund and Experimental Animal Fund of Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality (11140902001).