effect of d-glucosamine sulfate on temporomandibular joint antigen induced arthritis in albino rats [histological, histocheniic and digital image analysis]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of d-glucosamine sulfate on tem-poromandibular joint arthritis. The present study was carried out on ninety male albino rats of average weight [150 - 20gmO]. These rats were divided into control healthy, arthritic arthritic nontreated and treated groups. Thirty rats for control and sacrificed parallel with group II and, III, thirty rats for group II [arthritic nontreated] which subdivided into three equal subgroup A, B,C they were sacrificed after arthritis induction by thirty, sixty, ninety days respectively and thirty rats for group III [treated group] which subdivided into three equal subgroups D, E, F. they were sacrificed after thirty, sixty and ninety days of treatment of arthritis respectively. The specimens were taken, fixed, demineralized and processed for paraffin sections. The sections were studied histologically, his-tochemically, statistically and digital image analysis.The results of this study, histologically; in group II there were side adhesion between the articular cartilage and the disc, thinning and irregularities of some parts of articular cartilage and destruction of subchondoral bone. These criteria decreased in severity from subgroup A to C. but in group III all these criteria in group II regenerated gradually from subgroup D to F which appeared nearly normal at subgroup F. Histochemically; in group II the collagen fibers were decreased and disarranged with matrix defect and loss of toludine blue stain, intense reaction to acid phosphatase, mild reaction to alkaline phosphatase. In group III the collagen fibers and matrix regenerated gradually from D to F after the treatment, very weak reaction to acid phosphatase and intense reaction to alkaline phosphatase. Digital image analysis revealed that the net collagen matrix was increased in group III more than group II. statistical analysis, there was significant increase in cartilage thickness and collagen matrix in group III more than group II.Based on the previous results we conclude that, treatment of temporomandibular joint arthritis by d-glucosamine sulfate leads to decrease the degenerative changes of osteoarthiritis in the joint, increases collagen formation, enhances the matrix formation and reduce the osteoarthritic pain. This paper was extracted from a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for master degree in oral biology by rehab r elzehery [demonstrator in oral biology, faculty of dentistry, man-soura university]