title: Gender-specific differences in temporomandibular retrodiscal tissues of the goat.
abstract: Healthy, adult, male and female goat temporomandibular retrodiscal tissues were characterized to determine if biochemical differences existed between the genders. RNA concentrations were not different between male and female retrodiscal tissues; however, the DNA concentration in female retrodiscal tissues was 82% greater than in male retrodiscal tissues. Collagen concentrations were significantly greater in male retrodiscal tissues, and this was reflected in significant gender differences of type I and III collagen concentrations. More specifically, male temporomandibular retrodiscal tissues contained 70% more type I collagen and 119% more type III collagen when compared to female retrodiscal tissues. These differences in collagens and DNA reflect a gender difference in temporomandibular retrodiscal tissue composition that underlies divergent biomechanical and neurophysiological properties.
authors.affiliation: Section of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1241, USA. mariotti.3@osu.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rumpf
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Malakhova
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D008297:Male; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA