The effects of estrogen on the degenerative changes of rat condylar cartilage and subchondral bone / 实用口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the effects of estrogen on the degenerative changes of condylar cartilage and subchondral bone in rats. Methods: 18 female SD rats aged 6 weeks were divided into control(C),unilateral anterior cross-bite(UAC) and UAC treated with estrogen(UAC + E) groups(n = 6). UAC metal prosthesis was cemented to the left incisors of maxilla and mandible of the rats in group UAC and UAC + E. Rats in UAC + E group were given pexitoneal injection of 80 μg 17β-estradiol per day. The rats in group C were untreated. Animal were sacrificed at the 4th weeks. The micro-structure of subchondral bone was observed by Micro-CT scanning. HE staining,Safranin O staining,immunohistochemical staining,TUNEL staining and TRAP staining for the observation of pathological changes of histomorphology,extracellular matrix,chondrocyte apoptosis in condylar cartilage,and osteoclasts number in subchondral bone. Results: UAC and UAC + E group showed evident osteoarthritis(OA)-like lesions. Compare with UAC group,there was a significant decrease in the expression of proteoglycan(P ＜ 0. 05),type Ⅱ collagen(P ＜ 0. 01),and a significant increase in the number of apoptotic chondrocytes(P ＜ 0. 01) in UAC + E group. As for subchondral bone,the BV/TV,Tb. Th parameters in C and UAC + E groups were significant higher than in UAC group(P ＜ 0. 01),while the BS /BV,Tb. N,Tb. Sp parameters and the osteoclasts number in C and UAC + E groups were significant fewer than in UAC groups(P ＜ 0. 01). There was no significant difference in bone ultra-parameters and osteoclasts number between C and UAC + E groups(P＞ 0. 05). Conclusion: In the model of rat TMJOA induced by unilateral anterior crossbite prosthesis,supra-physiological level of estrogen can reverse bone loss in subchondral bone,but accelerate the degradation of condylar cartilage.