Chondrocyte apoptosis in rabbit temporomandibular joint after anterior disc displacement.
OBJECTIVE
To study the chondrocyte apoptosis in rabbit temporomandibular joint after anterior disc displacement.


METHODS
Experimental anterior disc displacement was induced surgically in 20 Japanese rabbits without opening their temporomandibular joint bursas. Histopathologic and apoptotic (TUNEL) analysis was used to evaluate the changes in articular cartilage, disc and synovium.


RESULTS
Condyle chondrocyte showed apoptosis most obviously at 1 or 2 weeks after surgery, and apoptotic cells concentrated in proliferative zone and hypertrophic zone. 4 or 6 weeks after surgery, the joint went into a remodelling period.


CONCLUSIONS
Chondrocyte apoptosis in temporomandibular joint will be activated after anterior disc displacement, which initiates the remodelling in temporomandibular joint.
Feng
Jianying
J
Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
Gu
Zhiyuan
Z
Cao
Zhiqiang
Z
Takanori
Shibata
S
Hu
Jian
J
Peng
Jiaping
J
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000503:physiopathology*