Effect of low masticatory function on condylar growth: a morphometric study in the rat.

The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of functional alterations on the size of the mandibular condyle and to elucidate in detail, by means of histomorphometric analysis, the effect of changing the consistency of the diet on different portions of the condylar cartilage in growing rats. Forty growing rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received the normal hard diet for rats; the other group received a standardized soft diet. The experimental period was 28 days. Ten animals from each group were used for gross morphometric analysis; the other 10 animals were used for histologic analysis of the condyle. The morphometric analysis of the condylar cartilage was based on the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the mediolateral sections of the condyles. The sections were divided into 3 parts: the anterior, intermediate, and posterior part; 4 measurements were performed in each. Significant differences were found in the condylar length and width between the groups, the soft diet group having a smaller condyle. The histomorphometric analysis of cartilage thickness showed significant differences between the 2 groups, being thinner in the anterior part and thicker in the posterior part of the condyle in the soft diet group. These routine histologic findings cannot explain the gross morphologic differences in the condylar size between the groups; this means that increased condylar cartilage thickness is not necessarily evidence of increased condylar growth. The results from this study indicate that a low masticatory function leads to decreased growth of the condyle and changes in the thickness of the cartilage. This may be the effect of an alteration in the stress distribution in the temporomandibular joint area, because of the absence of large masticatory forces.