Experimental study on the anteriorly displaced temporomandibular joint meniscus in rabbit / 대한치과교정학회지

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to analyse the reorganization of the rabbit TMJ meniscus which was anteriorly displaced by surgery. The author compared the anteriorly displaced groups with control group. After surgical opening of the left rabbit TMJ space, cut the posterior attachment of the meniscus, and pushed it under the undercut area of the condyle head. Experimental groups were sacrificed by 1,2,4,8 weeks after surgery. The samples were analysed with light microscope under T-B stain and electron microscope. The results were as follows 1) The rabbit TMJ meniscus consisted of thick anterior and posterior band running different way, and comparative thin intermediate band runining antero-posteriorly. 2) Round oval shape chondrocyte-like cells were imbeded between the collagen fiber bundles and composed of proteoglycan granules, that showed metachromasia with toluidine blue, around the cell matrix. 3) Type II collagen fiber bundles in experimental group occured degenerative changes in organic patterns at 8 weeks, but those of type I collagen fiber bundles sustained longer. 4) The typical fibrocartilage of the rabbit TMJ meniscus was changed into fibrotic mode in process of time and showed the degenerative changes, which contained hyperplasia, calcification, resorption and hyalinization in the connective tissue. 5) The hyperplastic change of the synovial membrane in 4 week group and transitional change from fibrocyte to chondrocyte in cell type in 8 week group were observed. 6) The diameters of collagen fibers were diminished with the degenerative changes, the shape of the fibers became wavier and more nonorganic in running pattern and fiber bundle spaces widened.