Relative growth of the condylar cartilage of the rat mandibular head during postnatal life.
In a study using morphometric techniques, the changes in area undergone by the various constituting layers of the condylar cartilage of the mandibular head of normal rats were examined, the cell/cartilage matrix ratios were determined, and the relative growth of the various cartilage layers was analyzed during postnatal life. The approximate 15% decrease of the cell contingent, the approximate 48% increase in cartilage matrix, the abrupt changes in the descriptive curve around the 15th to 20th d of postnatal life and the analysis of the relative growth pattern of the fibrous, embryogenic, cartilage, and hypertrophic cartilage layers were related to the functional adaptations which regulate the growth of the mandible condyle by a direct or indirect action on the temporal-mandibular articulation system.
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Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
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D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000166:cytology*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains