Abstract:

Objective To develop an animal model of the total temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis in rabbits.  Methods Eight New Zealand white rabbits were selected. The upper and lower compartments of the right TMJ of the white rabbits was injected with 0.2mL 2% papain. Three days later, the same amount of papain was injected at the same place, and the left TMJ was used as a control. The animals were killed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th week. The TMJ and the nearby tissues were cut off and then the TMJ was pathologically examined.  Results Under light microscopy, in the early stage serious osteoarthritis that had happened on the rightTMJ was found one week after treatment and the pathological changes were significant in the temporal surface, disc and condyle. The cartilage was potholed and the stratum fibrosum was denuded, and the collagen fiber was loosened and fragmented in the later stage.  Conclusion   Papain injected into the upper and lower compartments of the TMJ is efficient to make a retrograde model of TMJ, and this method is simple and repeatable.

Key words: Osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint; Ppathology； Model, animal