Establishment of temporomandibular joint puncture technique in rats using in vivo micro-computed tomography (R_mCT®).
The aim of the report was to establish puncture techniques for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) cavity in rats. The experimental sample comprised 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Under general anaesthesia the superior joint cavity of the rat was punctured either laterally (lateral puncture technique (LPT), n = 11), anteriorly (anterosuperior puncture technique (ASPT), n = 13) or anteroinferior puncture technique (AIPT), n = 6) using a 27-gauge needle. After the tip of the needle was confirmed by micro-CT (R-mCT®, Rigaku, Tokyo, Japan) located on the mandibular fossa, 0.05 ml of contrast media was injected under micro-CT fluoroscopic guidance. After confirmation that the joint cavity was filled with contrast media, micro-CT imaging was carried out. The puncture for LPT was accurate in 5 of the 11 animals. The ASPT was accurate in all 13 animals. The AIPT punctured 3 of the 6 animals. Furthermore, the ASPT and AIPT demonstrated improved preservation of the needle; it was harder to detach the needle, which led to greater stability. These results suggest that ASPT assisted by R-mCT® is useful for basic research, including drug discovery and pathogenesis of TMJ diseases.
Kameoka
S
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Nihon University School of Dentistry, 1-8-13 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-8310. Japan.
Matsumoto
K
K
Kai
Y
Y
Yonehara
Y
Y
Arai
Y
Y
Honda
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001175:Arthrography; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D011677:Punctures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
D003287:Contrast Media