Pharmacology is situated between the basic and clinical sciences and is important for dental students. There is a growing demand on the dental clinicians to know huge knowledge of drugs and how to use them for patients. For these purpose, the first lecture is aimed to teach the scientific aspects of pharmacology and how drugs act on the various organ system. The second lecture deals with drugs of medical and dental fields and the last with drugs of special importance of dentistry. Dental students learn the principle of pharmacology through laboratory practice. Following these learning, they must acquire an adequate background for drug use in general practice.

1) Pharmacological analysis of the formation and resorption mechanisms of teeth and bone
2) Drug effects on the differentiation of the cells that participate formation and resorption process of the hard tissues
3) Identification of the new drug targets for hard tissue diseases
4) Translational research for the hard tissue regeneration
5) Analysis of side effects of the drug that appear in oral tissues

Original Article

1. Khan, M. Alles, N. Soysa, N. Mamun, A. Nagano, K. Mikami, R. Furuya, Y. Yasuda, H. Ohya, K. Aoki, K: The local administration of TNF-a and RANKL antagonist peptide promotes BMP-2-induced bone formation. J Oral Biosciences 55:47-54 doi: 10.1016/j.job.2012.12.006 2013
2. Mamun, A. Khan, M. Alles, N. Matsui, M. Tabata, Y. Ohya, K. Aoki, K: Gelatin hydrogel carrier with the W9-peptide elicits synergistic effects on BMP-2-induced bone regeneration. J Oral Biosciences 55:217-223 doi: 10.1016/j.job.2013.06.008 2013
3. Furuya,Y. Inagaki, A. Khan, M. Mori, K. Penninger, J.M. Nakamura, M. Udagawa, N. Aoki, K. Ohya, K. Uchida, K. Yasuda, H.: Stimulation of bone formation in cortical bone of mice treated with a receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-binding peptide that possesses osteoclastogenesis inhibitory activity. J Biol Chem 288(8): 5562–5571 doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.426080 2013
4. Nagai, Y. Osawa, K. Fukushima, H. Tamura, Y. Aoki, K. Ohya, K. Yasuda, H. Hikiji, H. Takahashi, M. Seta, Y. Seo. S. Kurokawa, M. Kato, S. Honda, H. Nakamura, I. Maki, K. Jimi, E.: p130Cas, Crk-associated substrate, plays important roles in osteoclastic bone resorption. J Bone and Mineral Res 28(12): 2449–2462 doi: 10.1002/jbmr.1936 2013
5. Sriarj, W. Aoki, K. Ohya, K. Takahashi, M. Takagi, Y. Shimokawa, H.: TGF-β in dentin matrix extract induces osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Odontology 12 doi:10.1007/s10266-013-0140-3 2013
6. Nassar, M. Hiraishi, N. Islam, MS. Aizawa, M. Tamura, Y. Otsuki, M. Kasugai, S. Ohya, K. Tagami, J.: Effect of phytic acid used as etchant on bond strength, smear layer, and pulpal cells. Eur J Oral Science 121(5):482-487 doi: 10.1111/eos.12064 2013
7. Nakamura, H. Aoki, K. Masuda, W. Alles, N. Nagano, K. Fukushima, H. Osawa, K. Yasuda, H. Nakamura, I. Mikuni-Takagaki, Y . Ohya, K. Maki, K. Jimi, E.: Disruption of NF-kB1 prevents bone loss caused by mechanical unloading. J Bone and Mineral Res 28( 6):1457-1467 doi: 10.1002/jbmr.1866 2013
8. Fujiki, K. Aoki, K. Marcian, P. Borak, L. Hudieb, M. Ohya, K. Igarashi, Y. Wakabayashi, N.: The influence of mechanical stimulation on osteoclast localization in the mouse maxilla: bone histomorphometry and finite element analysis. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology 12(2): 325-333 doi 10.1007/s10237-012-0401-z 2013