title: Effect of simvastatin injections on temporomandibular joint inflammation in growing rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Juvenile idiopathic arthritis often affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), resulting in facial deformities, and intra-articular injections of anti-inflammatory steroids used in treatment may inhibit bone growth in the developing condyle. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of simvastatin (SIM), a bone anabolic drug, compared with the common steroid triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH) in experimental TMJ arthritis of growing rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Joint inflammation was induced by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the TMJs of 32 growing (4-week-old) Sprague-Dawley rats while simultaneously receiving 1) ethanol drug carrier, 2) 0.1 mg of SIM, 3) 0.5 mg of SIM, or 4) 0.15 mg of TH. Six rats had no treatment to the TMJ. Animals were euthanized 28 days later, and TMJs were decalcified and stained with hematoxylin-eosin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologic TMJ results showed that CFA injection along with drug carrier induced increased thickness of the articular layer on the head of the condyle and inflammation of the retrodiscal area (CFA and ethanol). Although both TH and SIM reduced the articular layer thickness, 0.5 mg of SIM was more effective at reducing subsynovial inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-articular simvastatin showed anti-inflammatory properties in this TMJ model, prompting its further study in the growing TMJ, where bone anabolic properties would be important.
authors: Department of Growth and Development, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE, USA.
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: George
authors: Callista M
authors: CM
authors: Owen
authors: Adam L
authors: AL
authors: Reinhardt
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Giannini
authors: David B
authors: DB
authors: Marx
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Reinhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004337:Drug Carriers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D004337:Drug Carriers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; C005900:triamcinolone hexacetonide