An animal model for inducing anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an animal model of anterior disc displacement (ADD) without the need for opening the temporomandibular joint (TMI) capsule.


METHODS
Thirty-two healthy adult Japanese white rabbits were used in this study. Four rabbits were dissected to familiarize the investigators with the anatomy of the TMJ. Sixteen animals were subjected to surgical ADD in the right TMJ, 8 animals had a sham operation, and 4 animals were not operated (normal controls). Four rabbits from the experimental ADD group and 2 from the sham group were sacrificed 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. The rabbits in normal control group were sacrificed at the beginning of the experiment. Animal behaviors as well as macro- and microchanges in the TMJs were investigated.


RESULTS
Fifteen right TMJ discs in the 16 experimental rabbits were successfully displaced anteriorly, and the degree of ADD in the experimental group was similar. The mandible of each ADD rabbit deviated to the left side with inclined attrition of the incisors. Some histologic changes appeared in the experimental TMJs.


CONCLUSIONS
This ADD technique without the need for opening the TMJ capsule is effective, and the model is suitable for studying ADD of the TMJ.
Gu
Zhiyuan
Z
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. gzy8@hzcnc.com
Zhou
Yiqun
Y
Zhang
Yinkai
Y
Zhao
Shanshan
S
Liu
Jianhua
J
Hu
Ji'an
J
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology*