Changes of the elastic fibre network of the rabbit temporomandibular joint following discectomy

Abstract

Elastic fibres are thought to be very important for the function of various organs including the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The current study was designed to examine changes in the elastic fibres of the TMJ following discectomy. The TMJs of six rabbits were surgically exposed, and the disc removed with a scalpel. Three untreated and three sham-operated rabbits were used as controls. Complete TMJs were removed in three rabbits 1 month and in three rabbits 3 months after discectomy and processed for histochemical demonstration of elastic fibres. In the TMJ 1 month after discectomy, osteoarthritic changes and a significant increase in the numbers of elastic fibres were observed in the condyle and articular eminence. In the TMJs 3 months after discectomy, they tended to revert to the levels in the condyle and articular eminence of the control TMJs. Our results show that after experimental discectomy, elastic fibres very often appear initially in the condyle and articular eminence, but they are destined to disappear later. This information may improve our understanding of the consequences of removal of the disc in clinical practice.

Masticatory biomechanics in the rabbit: a multi-body dynamics analysis

“…A validated MDA model of the rabbit skull has the potential to develop our understanding of the biomechanics occurring during mastication. Such information can be used in the field of medical research, where it is one of the most commonly used animals [14]: for example, implants are often evaluated through implantation into various regions of the rabbit skull [15][16][17][18]; cheek teeth are extracted in order to test bone grafts [19] and to examine the influence of biomaterials on the bone healing process around the tooth sockets [20,21]; the effect of tooth loss on the histochemical composition of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) cartilage and disc [22], and histology of the condyle [23] have also been reported; and the rabbit TMJ has been surgically altered to investigate the effects of discectomy [24,25] and implantation of disc replacements [26].…”

Evaluación Histológica e Histoquímica de las Fibras Colágenas y Elásticas de los Tejidos de la ATM Humana

“…En disecciones del disco de la articulación témporomandibular realizados en conejos, se apreció un incremento de fibras elásticas en el cóndilo y eminencia articular del temporal al cabo de un mes de realizada la disección. La evaluación morfológica después de tres meses de la disección mostró una leve disminución en las cantidades de fibras elásticas tanto en el cóndilo como en la eminencia articular (Sato et al, 2002).…”

Diagnostic imaging modalities and surgical anatomy of the temporomandibular joint in rabbits

“…16,17 Studies on the effect of tooth loss on the histochemical composition of TMJ cartilage and disc 18 and on the histology of the condyle 19 have been performed. Surgical alterations of the rabbit TMJ for investigation of discectomy effects 20,21 and implantation of disc replacements have also been reported. 22 However, although the rabbit has been routinely used as an experimental animal model, very little information is available about the anatomy of its TMJ, and its coverage in veterinary textbooks is even more cursory.…”