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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to assess the tissue alterations in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of the New Zealand White rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.), after a unilateral occlusal interference insertion on the animal's right side back teeth. A total of 36 animals were used, thirty of which belonged to the experimental group and six to the control group. We established three experimental periods: 24 hours, three days and seven days. The control group animals were divided two by two; each pair followed the same experimental periods of the former one. The experimental group animals were submitted to the use of a 0.3 mm thick metallic cap with a visor. All animals were euthanized, and the TMJs were removed. Using a microscope for examination we observed, in all experimental periods, the presence of intra-articular hemorrhage in the supra- and infra-disk compartments as well as in the retro-disk zone. There were no inflammatory cells detected. The thickness of the condylar fibrocartilage presented significant alterations among the animals of the three experimental groups. In the left TMJs no inflammatory cells were detected. The results suggest that the insertion of a unilateral occlusal interference in rabbit back teeth does not cause any inflammatory intra-articular process within seven days; however, it does cause bilateral intra-articular hemorrhage and a larger compression of the condylar fibrocartilage in the joint opposite the side where the interference is placed. We also concluded that, in order to do research on the temporomandibular joint using animals, it is necessary have an independent (or separate) group of animals as controls.
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Notes on contributors
Karen Chaves
Dr. Karen Chaves received her D.D.Sc. degree in 1989 and her M.Sc. in Oral Pathology in 1997 from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Faculdade de Odontologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Dr. Chaves is currently an assistant professor and researcher in the Occlusion Section, Department of Conservative Dentistry, UFRGS.
Maria Cristina Munerato
Dr. Maria Cristina Munerato received her D.D.Sc. degree in 1987 from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Faculdade de Odontologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil and her M. Sc. in Bucco-maxillofacial Surgery in 1992 and her Ph. D. in Stomatology in 1997 from Pontifícia Universidade Catûlica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Faculdade de Odontologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Dr. Munerato is currently an adjunct professor and researcher in the Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Faculdade de Odontologia, Canoas, RS, Brazil.
Anelise Ligocki
Dr. Anelise Ligocki received her D.D.Sc. degree in 1988 from Pontifícia Universidade Catûlica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Faculdade de Odontologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil and her M. Sc. in Oral Pathology in 1998 from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Faculdade de Odontologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Isabel Lauxen
Isabel Lauxen is a biologist and received her degree in 1988 from Pontifícia Universidade Catûlica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Faculdade de Biologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Currently, she works at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Faculdade de Odontologia, Laboratory of Oral Pathology in Brazil (UFRGS).
Onofre Francisco de Quadros
Dr. Onofre Francisco de Quadros received his D.D.Sc. degree in 1959 and his Ph. D. in Oral Pathology in 1974 from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Faculdade de Odontologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. He is currently a professor of Oral Pathology and Head of Department of Conservative Dentistry at UFRGS.