Analysis of Bone Remodeling in the Mandibular Condyle of Female Retired-Breeder Rabbits Following Altered Loading

Abstract

Previous studies have associated increased occlusal loads with degenerative changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The purpose of this study was to analyze effects of increased occlusal loads in adult animals. It was hypothesized that increased functional loading would cause degeneration of the mandibular condyle.

Twelve female retired-breeder rabbits (mean age = three years, one month) were divided equally into three experimental groups and one control group. Each of the experimental rabbits received maxillary and mandibular light-cured anterior splints at the beginning of the study to create a bilateral posterior openbite (~2 mm). Theoretically, this should have resulted in increased loads to the TMJ. The first two groups wore the appliances for six and 12 weeks, respectively, prior to euthanasia. The third group wore the appliances for 12 weeks and then had them removed for 12 weeks prior to being euthanized. Fluorescent bone labels were utilized, and the specimens were analyzed histomorphometrically.

The cartilage thickness was not statistically different between groups, nor were there any signs of cartilage degeneration. There was a trend, however, toward thinner condylar cartilage in the 12-week group.

The six-week group showed significantly less labeled subchondral bone than the control group (0.5 ± 0.1 % versus 2.6 ± 0.3%, respectively; p<.05). The six- and 12-week groups both revealed significantly less periosteal surface label of the condylar neck than the control group (1.5 ± 0.8% and 5.3 ± 1. 7% versus 22.0 ± 3.5%, respectively; p<.05). Likewise, they both showed significantly more label at the cartilage-bone interface (1.0 ± 0.2% and 1.4 ± 0.2% versus 0.4 ± 0.2%, respectively; p<.05) and moderately more label along the trabecular surfaces than the control group.

These results indicated that the increased loading of the mandibular condyle initially (at six weeks) depressed remodeling of the subchondral bone and decreased periosteal bone formation. Modeling increased at the cartilage-bone interface and potentially along the trabecular bone surfaces. With continued elevated occlusal loads (at 12 weeks), modeling still was quite active at the cartilage-bone interface and on the trabecular surfaces. Periosteal surface modeling remained depressed compared to the control group, but remodeling in the subchondral bone region increased to that of the control group. The 12/12-week group tended to show findings similar to the control group. This suggests that once loading was returned to normal, the condyle also returned toward preexperimental physiologic conditions.

Although this study did not show the obvious degenerative changes one typically equates with osteoarthrosis, the elevated modeling at the cartilage-bone interface following increased joint loads was consistent with the early degenerative changes observed by Radin et al. in their joint-loading model. However, the rapid osseous changes seen in this study refute the theory that the adult TMJ is unable to adapt to altered functional loading.