J Korean Assoc Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  1999 May;21(2):120-130.

The histologic study of the rat temporomandibular joint change following ovariectomy

• Jung HS
• Kim KW
• Lee JH
• Kim CJ

Abstract

This investitigaon studied the effect of ovariectomy on the temporomandibular joint(TMJ) of rat. Forty female Sprauge - Dawley strain white rats, each weighing about 200grams were used and divided into two groups.The one group was performed ovariectomy, and the other was performed sham opertation. Both group were killed at the intervals of 3 days, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively, paraffin section were stained with H&E, MT and histomorphometric study of the TMJ was performed in a synchronous manner with an sham operated control group The result were as follows: 1. At 4 weeks after ovariectomy, an adhesion between the inferior surface of the articular disc and the condyle was observed in the central portion. At 8 weeks after ovariectomy, a focal thickening of the bone(osteophyte) was observed in anterior portion and there was a marked decrease in the trabecular bone in the posterior region. 2. The thckness of cartilage zone was increased at 2 weeks postopratively in the central portion, and decreased at 4weeks postopratively in the posterior portion. The thickness of transitional zone was decreased at 1 week postoperatively in the anterior and proliferating zone was decreased postoperatively. The thckness of articular zone was decreased at 3 days postopratively in the anterior portion, and decreased at 1 week postoperatively in the central portion. From the above finding, we could conclue that estrogen deficiency in rats causes alteration of TMJ in marked early stage.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cartilage
Estrogens
Female
Humans
Ovariectomy*
Paraffin
Rats*
Temporomandibular Joint*
Estrogens
Paraffin