ovalbumin and Temporomandibular-Joint-Disorders

Although it is common clinical practice to treat children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) with functional appliances, the scientific evidence for this is limited. The aim of this study was to study the histologic effects of mandibular protrusion splints in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis in rabbits.. Twenty-eight ten-week old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: AO (TMJ arthritis, no splint), AS (TMJ arthritis, mandibular splint advancement), OS (no arthritis, mandibular splint advancement) and OO (no arthritis, no splint). TMJ arthritis was induced in the groups AO and AS; 1 week later mandibular protrusion splints were placed on the upper incisors of the AS and OS animals. After 60 days the animals were sacrificed and a semiquantitative histologic evaluation of each TMJ was carried out to analyze the amount of inflammation and bone modeling.. AO and AS animals had a higher inflammation score (AO = 1.3; AS = 1.8) than the non-arthritis groups (OO = 0.6; OS = 0.4). Whereas in the untreated control (OO) the amount of apposition and resorption was almost in balance (+1), OS animals displayed significantly more apposition (+9) and AO animals significantly more resorption (-3) than the untreated control. Arthritis animals with protrusion appliances (AS), however, had remarkably more bone apposition (+3) than resorption, indicating a similar bony reaction as in healthy animals, although reduced in extent.. Mandibular advancement in rabbits with TMJ arthritis is possible without detrimental histologic reactions and appears to partially compensate for the bone loss seen in rabbits with TMJ arthritis but without protrusion splints.

Topics: Animals; Antigens; Arthritis, Experimental; Bone Remodeling; Bone Resorption; Inflammation; Mandibular Advancement; Ovalbumin; Rabbits; Splints; Temporomandibular Joint; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause severe growth disturbances of the craniomandibular system. Antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) of the rabbit TMJ is simulating the inflammatory process of the TMJ in JIA. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a systemic administration of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonist etanercept on AIA in rabbits by means of three different histological staining methods.. After sensitization, a bilateral arthritis of the TMJ was induced and maintained by repeated intra-articular administrations of ovalbumin in 12 New Zealand white rabbits aged 10 weeks. From the 13th week of age, 6 of the 12 rabbits received weekly subcutaneous injections of etanercept, and the other 6 animals remained without therapy. Another 6 animals served as controls, receiving no treatment or intra-articular injections at all. After euthanasia at the age of 22 weeks, all TMJs were retrieved en bloc. Sagittal sections were cut and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E), Safranin-O for the evaluation of the Mankin score, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP).. In the arthritis group, a chronic inflammation with degeneration of the articular cartilage was visible. In the etanercept group, the signs of cartilage degeneration were significantly reduced but present. In contrast, the joints in the control group were inconspicuous. A strong correlation between the Mankin score and TRAP-positive cells could be found.. Antigen-induced arthritis causes severe damage in the TMJ of young rabbits. An improvement seems to be achievable by a systemic administration of etanercept.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arthritis, Experimental; Arthritis, Juvenile; Biomarkers; Cartilage, Articular; Coloring Agents; Disease Models, Animal; Etanercept; Female; Freund's Adjuvant; Injections, Intra-Articular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Isoenzymes; Mandibular Condyle; Osteoclasts; Ovalbumin; Phenazines; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Time Factors

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause severe growth disturbances of the craniomandibular system. Antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) of the rabbit TMJ is simulating the inflammatory process of the TMJ in JIA. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a systemic administration of methotrexate (MTX) on AIA in rabbits by means of three different histological staining methods.. After sensitization, a bilateral arthritis of the TMJ was induced by an intra-articular administration of ovalbumin in 12 New Zealand white rabbits aged 10 weeks. From the 13th week of age, six of the 12 rabbits received weekly intramuscular injections of MTX, and the other six animals remained without therapy. Another six animals served as controls, receiving no treatment or intra-articular injections at all. After euthanasia at the age of 22 weeks, all TMJs were retrieved en bloc. Sagittal sections were cut and stained with haematoxylin-eosin (H-E), Safranin-O for the evaluation of the Mankin score and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP).. In the arthritis group, a chronic inflammation with degeneration of the articular cartilage was visible. In the MTX group, the signs of cartilage degeneration were significantly reduced compared with the arthritis group. In contrast, the joints in the control group were inconspicuous. A correlation between the Mankin score and TRAP-positive cells could be found.. Systemic administration of MTX seems to have a positive effect upon the inflammatory process in the rabbit TMJ but fails to eliminate the sign of arthritis completely.

Topics: Animals; Antirheumatic Agents; Arthritis, Experimental; Cartilage, Articular; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Inflammation; Injections, Intra-Articular; Methotrexate; Ovalbumin; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Temporomandibular Joint; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause severe disturbances of the mandibular development. Methotrexate (MTX) is often administered as a common used remission-inducing agent to treat this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low dose MTX on the mandibular growth in arthritic rabbits.. Eighteen 10-week-old female New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups with six animals in each group. After being sensitized to ovalbumin (OA), the first and the second group received intra-articular injections with OA. The first group remained untreated, the second was treated by weekly injections of MTX. Cephalograms were taken from each animal at 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22 weeks of age and six mandibular distances measured.. All distances showed an increase between 10 and 20 per cent, whereas growth was more accentuated in the sagittal dimension. Significant differences in the overall growth could be observed between the arthritic and the control animals and less accentuated between the arthritic and the MTX animals. In contrast, existing differences between the groups were not significant during the intervals, but time had the greatest influence on mandibular growth.. MTX seems to have a positive impact on growth in rabbits suffering from experimental arthritis of the TMJ.

Topics: Animals; Antirheumatic Agents; Arthritis, Experimental; Cephalometry; Female; Injections, Intra-Articular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Mandible; Methotrexate; Ovalbumin; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Temporomandibular Joint; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Time Factors

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining is a widely accepted method for the detection of DNA fragmentation in nuclei of apoptotic cells. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is closely associated with changes in condylar cartilage and modulates apoptosis in various tissues including cartilage. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between apoptotic chondrocytes and TNF-alpha in a rabbit model of arthritis.. Unilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis was induced in 20 adult New Zealand White rabbits. From 1 day to 6 weeks after the induction of arthritis, immunohistochemical analysis for TNF-alpha and TUNEL was performed.. In condylar cartilage, TNF-alpha-positive cells and TUNEL-positive cells were localized together. TNF-alpha-positive chondrocytes seemed to precede TUNEL-positive cells.. The results of the present study suggest that TNF-alpha may be involved in apoptosis and/or apoptotic necrosis of chondrocytes as TMJ arthritis progresses from the acute to chronic stage.

Topics: Animals; Antigens; Apoptosis; Arthritis, Experimental; Cartilage; Cell Nucleus; Cell Proliferation; Chondrocytes; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; DNA Fragmentation; Hypertrophy; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Male; Mandibular Condyle; Necrosis; Ovalbumin; Rabbits; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Time Factors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The aim was to investigate joint perfusate levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in antigen-induced monoarthritis of the rabbit temporomandibular (TMJ) and knee joints. Twenty-four adult male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups: a control group as well as TMJ arthritis and knee joint arthritis groups. After sensitization, unilateral arthritis was induced by intra-articular injection with ovalbumin and the contralateral joint was injected with saline 3 weeks after induction of arthritis. Joints were then perfused continuously with saline and samples were collected at 10-min intervals over a 50-min period. The IL-1beta concentrations in the samples were then analyzed. After killing the animals, the joints were examined histologically. The IL-1beta concentrations in the samples from the arthritic TMJs and knee joints were significantly higher than in the saline-injected and the control joints. Histological signs of chronic arthritis of similar severity were found in both joints. The IL-1beta levels in the samples from the arthritic TM and knee joints correlated with the histological severity of the arthritis, including pannus formation. In conclusion, this study shows that IL-1beta is released in the synovium of rabbit TMJs and knee joints during antigen-induced arthritis, and that high IL-1beta levels in synovial fluid are associated with histological signs of inflammation including, pannus tissue formation.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Arthritis, Experimental; Immunization; Injections, Intra-Articular; Interleukin-1; Knee Joint; Male; Ovalbumin; Rabbits; Sodium Chloride; Statistics, Nonparametric; Synovial Fluid; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a chronic systemic disease of childhood that affects synovial joints including the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Individuals with JRA of the TMJ frequently show aberrations in mandibulofacial development. Since the basis for these developmental perturbations is poorly understood, they remain a perplexing clinical problem to manage. To begin dissecting the mechanisms for altered craniofacial development in JRA of the TMJ, we characterized the gross morphologic adaptations in the facial skeleton in a juvenile animal model of TMJ arthritis. Arthritis was induced in ten 87-day-old male rabbits by intra-articular challenge with ovalbumin. Eight sham-challenged and 4 unchallenged rabbits were used as controls. Serial lateral head cephalograms, taken at 73 (T1), 87 (T2), 108 (T3), 129 (T4), and 150 (T5) days of age, were evaluated by linear measures of maxillary, mandibular, and posterior dental height dimensions. Differences in the absolute dimensions and relative percent incremental changes were compared by ANOVA and Fisher's test. The body weights, as well as the absolute measures and incremental changes in maxillary and posterior dental height dimensions, were not significantly different between the antigen-challenged and control groups. In contrast, absolute measures of posterior mandibular height, condylar neck height, and total mandibular length were significantly smaller (P < 0.05) in antigen-challenged rabbits than in both control groups at T5. Furthermore, the antigen-challenged rabbits demonstrated significantly smaller (P < 0.05) relative increases in all measures of mandibular length, and in total posterior mandibular and condylar neck heights. Cephalometric superimpositions on the cranial base and tantalum implants confirmed these quantitative observations. This investigation demonstrates mandibulofacial developmental aberrations in experimental JRA-like disease of the TMJ that are similar to those observed in humans with this disease.

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antigens; Arthritis, Juvenile; Body Weight; Cephalometry; Disease Models, Animal; Facial Bones; Follow-Up Studies; Injections, Intra-Articular; Male; Mandible; Mandibular Condyle; Maxilla; Maxillofacial Development; Ovalbumin; Rabbits; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; Skull Base; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Vertical Dimension

To assess the utility of macromolecular contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging parameters for determining the histopathologic severity of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis.. Ovalbumin was used to induce arthritis in the TMJs of 10 previously sensitized adult white rabbits. Five rabbits composed the sham-treated control group. Dynamic spin-echo imaging was performed immediately before and for 30 minutes after injection of macromolecular contrast medium. Histologic specimens of TMJ were assessed quantitatively for arthritis. Changes in MR signal intensity were derived from the synovial and subsynovial tissues of the TMJ, and plasma volume (PV) and permeability surface area product (PS) were calculated. These MR parameters and the arthritic scores were compared between sham-treated and antigen-challenged TMJs. The relationships between MR parameters and histopathologic indexes were also determined.. Arthritic TMJs showed marked enhancement of the synovial and subsynovial tissues over the imaging period. PS and all histopathologic indexes of arthritis were significantly greater (P < .005) in antigen-challenged than in sham-treated TMJs. PS demonstrated strong positive relationships with all histologic parameters of arthritis, indicating its utility for assessing the severity of joint inflammation.. Macromolecular contrast-enhanced MR imaging enables quantification of PS and PV in inflamed joints. This technique may provide insights into the pathogenesis of joint inflammation and noninvasive monitoring of disease severity and treatment response in arthritis.

Topics: Albumins; Animals; Arthritis; Contrast Media; Gadolinium DTPA; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Molecular Weight; Observer Variation; Organometallic Compounds; Ovalbumin; Pentetic Acid; Rabbits; Temporomandibular Joint; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile chronic arthritis often exhibit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement accompanied by pain, dysfunction, and growth abnormalities. Despite the severe functional and developmental consequences of this disease, its pathogenesis remains poorly understood, but important insights may be provided by a suitable animal model of this disease. The purpose of this study was to develop and histologically characterize a juvenile animal model of antigen-induced arthritis of the TMJ. Arthritis was induced with an intra-articular administration of ovalbumin in previously sensitized 10-week-old male New Zealand white rabbits. Sham-treated and untreated rabbits were used as controls. The TMJs were retrieved en bloc at 5, 10, 15, 35, and 55 days post-challenge for histology and matrix histochemistry. Antigen-treated joints demonstrated severe arthritis, including mononuclear cell infiltration, synovial lining and villous hyperplasia, and pannus formation, as early as 5 days after challenge; the arthritis was maintained up to 55 days post-challenge. A decrease in the area of the TMJ disc that stained positively for glycosaminoglycans was observed throughout the experimental period. Loss of collagen staining was primarily localized to sites at the junction of the synovium with bone and fibrocartilage. The histopathologic features of this model of antigen-induced arthritis of the juvenile rabbit TMJ are similar to those observed previously in adult animal models of experimental arthritis and in human rheumatoid arthritis. This animal model will be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis of the TMJ, and for exploring the mechanisms for aberrant craniofacial growth.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Arthritis, Experimental; Arthritis, Juvenile; Cartilage, Articular; Collagen; Coloring Agents; Disease Models, Animal; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Glycosaminoglycans; Histocytochemistry; Male; Ovalbumin; Phenazines; Rabbits; Synovial Membrane; Synovitis; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders