O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade das glândulas salivares, a mineralização dental e a participação da metaloproteinase de matriz (MMP-9) nesta mineralização em filhotes de ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR) tratadas ou não com atenolol. Ratas SHR e normotensas Wistar foram tratadas com atenolol (100mg/Kg/dia, via oral) durante os períodos de prenhez e lactação. Os grupos controle receberam o mesmo volume de água sem atenolol. O fluxo salivar, induzido por nitrato de pilocarpina, a concentração de proteínas (método de Lowry), a atividade da amilase (método cinético a 405 nm), o peso das glândulas salivares (parótidas, submandibulares e sublinguais), a microdureza do esmalte e da dentina de incisivos e molares e a expressão da MMP-9 (imonuperoxidase) no tecido dental foram comparados entre filhotes de ratas SHR e Wistar tratadas ou não com atenolol. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste estatístico mais adequado, paramétrico (ANOVA ou test t de Student’s) ou não paramétrico (Kruskal-Wallis), sendo consideradas significativas as diferenças quando p<0,05. Filhotes SHR apresentaram menor fluxo salivar e concentração de proteínas do que filhotes Wistar, mas a atividade da amilase não foi diferente entre os grupos. O peso das glândulas salivares foi semelhante entre filhotes SHR e Wistar...The objective of the present study was analyzed the salivary activity, the dental mineralization and the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) on this mineralization, in pups (30 days) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) treated, or not treated, with atenolol. Female SHR and normotensive Wistar rats were treated during pregnancy and lactation periods with Atenolol 100mg/Kg/day by oral administration. For the control group, the animals received the same water volume without the drug. The salivary flow rate (stimulated by pilocarpine injection), the protein concentration (Lowry method), salivary amylase activity (kinetic method at 405 nm), the weight of salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual), the enamel and dentin microhardness of incisors and molars teeth and the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9, gelatinase B) localization (imunoperoxidase) in dental tissue were compared between SHR and Wistar pups of female rats treated or not with atenolol. The results were analyzed by parametric (ANOVA or Student s tests) or non-parametric (Kruskal-Wallis) tests (p<0,05). The salivary flow rate and salivary protein concentration were reduced in SHR pups. There was no alteration in amylase activity between groups. The salivary glands weight was not different between SHR and Wistar pups either. Decreased enamel and dentin microhardness were observed in incisors and molar teeth of SHR pups. No alterations in MMP-9 positive staining were observed in predentin and odontoblasts of both groups, however the density of stained ameloblasts cells and external enamel surface were higher in incisors teeth of SHR pups. Atenolol-treated SHR and Wistar rats pups showed decrease in submandibular gland weight, in saliva s flow rate and protein concentration, but no alteration in amylase activity. Atenolol increased enamel and dentin microhardness of incisors teeth of SHR and...(Complete abstract, click electronic address below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)