RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the partial glossectomy on the mandibular growth of growing rats. Thirty one Sprague-Dawley rats four weeks old were divided into two groups : the first group served as the control and the second group was partially excised in the tongue of the rats. The experimental animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks after partial glossectomy. The changes of the rat mandibular growth following partial glossectomy were observed biometrically from dry bone specimens. The findings were as follows: 1. Partial glossectomy of growing rat produced inhibitory effects on the growth of the mandible and did not change the original shape of the mandible. 2. Among the factors affecting mandibular growth, the presence of the proper tongue size was essential. 3. Partial glossectomy of the growing rats could not change general growth of the rats whole bodies.