Change of Glycosaminoglycan Distribution and Collagen Fibers Arrangement on Temporomandibular Joint Following Anterior Disc Displacement of the Rabbits

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the effects of surgical induction of anterior disc displacement (ADD) on the distribution of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen fiber arrangement in the rabbit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tissues including articular cartilage of condyle, disc, retrodiscal tissue, and articular eminence.METHODS: We used van Gieson staining and Alcian blue critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) method to observe change of collagen fibers on disc and to measure GAG up to 10 weeks in TMJ tissues after surgical induction of ADD on 25 rabbits.RESULTS: CEC measurements for GAG showed 0.3 M, 0.4 M, 0.6 M, and 0.8 M at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3, 4, and 8 weeks, 10 weeks, respectively. This result indicated that GAGs shifted to highly sulphated ones as time passed. Disruption of collagen fiber arrangement in the disk occurred at 10 days and aggravated at 3 weeks.CONCLUSION: Our study showed degenerative osteoarthritis changes in rabbit TMJ following surgical induction of ADD up to 10-week period.