J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2009 Dec;35(6):403-410.

Expression of Estrogen Receptors in Retrodiscal Tissue of the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Patients

• Kim JY
• Lim JH
• Park KH
• Kim HG
• Huh JK

Abstract

Those composing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complex such as the temporal bone, the disc and the mandibular condyle perform their own functions with organic relation. The retrodiscal tissue is the main area of pain induction and contributes to compositional change of synovial fluid. If displacement of the disc lasts long time, not only adaptive changes, but also destructive or degenerative changes may happen. It was reported that these changes and symptoms appear mostly to female rather than male and especially, in the case of patients suffering from TMJ disorder, a large quantity of female sex hormone is found in the joint synovium. And that may play a role in bone resorption and inflammation. Also, the frequency and the intensity of pain perception for female is reported to be much more than for male. In this study, we investigated the expression extents of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesteron receptors (PR) in retrodiscal tissue with immunohistochemistry among the patients received TMJ surgery and compared with MRI findings and surgical findings. We report the relations between the expression of ER in retrodiscal tissue and the pathological change in TMJ, such as inflammation, internal derangement and osteoarthritis.

Keyword

Sex hormones; Estrogen receptors; Temporomandibular joint; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Bone Resorption
Displacement (Psychology)
Estrogens
Female
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Inflammation
Joints
Male
Mandibular Condyle
Osteoarthritis
Pain Perception
Receptors, Estrogen
Stress, Psychological
Synovial Fluid
Synovial Membrane
Temporal Bone
Temporomandibular Joint
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Estrogens
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Receptors, Estrogen