Blood flow in maxilla and mandible of normal and atherosclerotic rhesus monkeys.

Atherosclerotic vascular disease affects many individuals, particularly in an elderly population. This study examined alterations in the vasculature and blood flow in the maxilla and mandible in rhesus monkeys fed an atherogenic (high fat) diet. No significant difference was found in blood flow between different regions of the bone (anterior mandible, posterior mandible and maxilla) in animals on either a normal or a high fat diet but overall blood flow in the monkeys on the atherogenic diet was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than in the control group. Histologic examination of tissue from the animals fed an atherogenic diet revealed minimal changes within the intrabony vasculature and measurements of these vessels showed no significant difference in the percentage of tissue occupied by vessel lumina or in average wall thickness between the groups of animals. On the other hand, tissue from the tongue exhibited gross atherosclerotic vascular lesions and examination of the carotid arteries revealed not only intimal plaques but extensive calcification. It thus appears that the decreased flow measured in the maxilla and mandible may be related to the severely involved afferent vessels rather than to functional changes in the local vasculature.