J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  1998 Feb;24(1):102-110.

The effects of synovial fluid deficiency on the temporomamdibular joint tissue of rabbits

• Park YH
• Kim UK
• Chung IK

Abstract

The synovial membrane of the temporomandibular joint lines all the intraarticular structures except the articular cartilage of the articular eminence, fossa, the mandibular condyle and the articular disc. The synovial membrane consists of two layers. The first layer is a lining cell layer facing the joint space and called synovial intima. The second layer is called subintimal or subsynovial tissue. The synovial membrane fulfills several important functions in maintaining normal joint physiology and joint function. Synovitis occurs when the level of cellular debris and the concentration of chemical mediators of inflammation produce levels that the synovial membrane is unable to ingest, absorb or process. So degeneration of temporomandibular joint may be increased by deficiency of synovial fluid. After general anesthesia by intramuscular injection of ketamin, exposure of TMJ of rabbit was done by preauricular approach. After exposure, rubber drain was inserted into the upper joint cavity, to prevent accumulation of synovial fluid. Penicillin G was used to prevent secondary infection for 3 days. Fifteen Rabbits were used for experiment, and subdivided into 5 groups (one normal group and 4 experimental groups, each subdivided group consisted in 3 rabbits). Experimental groups were taken after period of 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks. After euthansia, enbloc excision of TMJ was done to make biopsy specimen. The results were as follows; 1. Layers of synovial intima were increased in experimental group, 8~10 layers in first week group and 4~5 layers in fourth week group as compared with 2~3 layers in normal group. 2. Inflammation, vascular change and subintimal edema were highest in second week group, but continued to fourth week group. 3. Subintimal fibrosis occured in second week group, and increased to fourth week group. 4. Due to fibrosis of joint cavity, narrowing of joint space occured in the third week group, and increased to fourth week group. 5. Degeneration of articular disc occured in second week group and increased to fourth week group.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Biopsy
Cartilage, Articular
Coinfection
Edema
Fibrosis
Inflammation
Inflammation Mediators
Injections, Intramuscular
Joints*
Mandibular Condyle
Penicillin G
Physiology
Rabbits*
Rubber
Synovial Fluid*
Synovial Membrane
Synovitis
Temporomandibular Joint
Inflammation Mediators
Penicillin G
Rubber