The turnover of collagen is controlled by the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation. The production of collagenase (matrix rnetalloproteinase-1). and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) are onet of the substances which rgulate this balance. The periodontal ligament fibrobIast plays an important role in collagen metabolism during orthodontic treatlment and is believed to be an origin of the osteoblast in the alveolar bone. The collagenase secreted by the periodontal ligament fibroblast and the osteoblast initiates the bone resorption by removing the osteoid layer in the alveloar bone. The interleukin-1β is secreted by the macrophage during orthodontic treatment. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of mechanical stress and interleukin-1β on the expression of collagenase and TIMP-1 in the periodontal ligament fibroblasts sing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining. The periodontal ligament frbroblasts were stretched by placing the Petriperm® dish on the top of spheroidal convex watch glass(5%, surface increase) and treated with interleukin-1β (1.0ng/ml), or treated with both of them. Treatrnent with mechanical stress and/or interleukin-1β resulted in increased collagenase mRNA expression. The mechanical stress treated group {161, 1.62, 1.37 fold increase), the interleukin-1β treated group (1.68 1.60 3.78 fold increase), the mechanical stress and interleukin-1β treated group (1.89, 1.72, 5.48 fold increase) induced increases in collagenase mRNA compared with the control group after 2, 4, 8 hours, respectively. But, TIMP-1 mRNA expressions at experimental groups were decreased after 2, 4 hours and increased after 8 hours. The mechanical stress treated group (0.16, 0.49 fold decrease and 3.77 fold incease), the interleukin-1β treated group (0.15, 0.44 fold decrease and 4.46 fold increase), the mechanical stress and interleukin-1β treated group (0.15, 0.69 fold decrease and 4.81 fold increase) induced changes in TlMP-1, mRNA compated with the control group after 2, 4, 8 hours, respectively. Immunohistochemical stain showed that increased collagenase and TIMP-1 staining of the mechanical stress treated group, the interleukin-1β treated group, and the mechanical stress and interleukin-1β treated group compared with that of the control group after 8 hours. These findings suggest that mechanical stress and interleukin-1β regulate expressions of collagenase and TIMP-1.