Effects of food hardness on temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: Qualitative and quantitative micro-CT analysis of rats in vivo

Trang Thi-Ngoc Tran; Ding-Han Wang; Mu-Chen Yang; Jyh-Cheng Chen; Po-Han Wu; Cheng-Chieh Yang; Wun-Eng Hsu; Ming-Lun Hsu

doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2022.152029

Effects of food hardness on temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: Qualitative and quantitative micro-CT analysis of rats in vivo

Ann Anat. 2023 Feb:246:152029. doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.152029. Epub 2022 Nov 23.

Authors

Trang Thi-Ngoc Tran¹, Ding-Han Wang², Mu-Chen Yang³, Jyh-Cheng Chen⁴, Po-Han Wu⁵, Cheng-Chieh Yang⁶, Wun-Eng Hsu⁷, Ming-Lun Hsu⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: ngoctrangrhm09@gmail.com.
² College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: dhwang@nycu.edu.tw.
³ Division of Craniofacial Development and Tissue Biology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan. Electronic address: yang.mu.chen.c4@tohoku.ac.jp.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: jyhcheng@nycu.edu.tw.
⁵ College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hank726jr@gmail.com.
⁶ College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: ccyang1124@nycu.edu.tw.
⁷ College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Electronic address: we.hsu@hotmail.com.
⁸ College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: mlhsu@nycu.edu.tw.

PMID: 36435414
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.152029

Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) is a degenerative joint disease in which quantitative analysis based on magnetic resonance image (MRI) or cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) remains limited. Moreover, the long-term effects of soft food on the adaptive condylar remodeling process in TMJ-OA remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of food hardness on adaptive condylar remodeling in a healthy TMJ, TMJ-OA, and controlled TMJ-OA.

Methods: Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was used for TMJ-OA induction and Link-N (LN) for TMJ repair. Eighteen mature rats were randomly divided into six groups: (1) control/normal diet (Ctrl-N); (2) control/soft diet (Ctrl-S); (3) TMJ-OA/normal diet (CFA-N); (4) TMJ-OA/soft diet (CFA-S); (5) Link-N-controlled TMJ-OA/normal diet (LN-N); and (6) Link-N-controlled TMJ-OA/soft diet (LN-S). Micro-CT was performed 14, 21, and 28 days after CFA injection to analyze the bone volume, bone volume fraction (BVF), bone mineral density (BMD), and trabecular bone number and thickness (Tb.N, Tb.Th). MRI and histological imaging were performed to support the analysis.

Results: Under CFA treatment, the BVF and BMD decreased significantly (p < 0.01) and later recovered to normal. However, more significant improvements occurred in normal-diet groups than soft-diet groups. Additionally, bone volume changes were more predictable in the normal-diet groups than in the soft-diet groups. The normal-diet groups presented a significant decrease and increase in the Tb.N and Tb.Th, respectively (p < 0.05), while the Tb.N and Tb.Th in the soft-diet groups remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, a significantly higher frequency of irregularities on the condylar articular surface was found in the soft-diet groups.

Conclusions: Compared with a soft diet, a normal diet may be beneficial for preserving condyle articular surface and directing bone remodeling in TMJ-OA rats.

Keywords: Bone density; Bone remodeling; Bone resorption; Micro-CT; Osteophyte; Temporomandibular joint disorder.

MeSH terms

Animals
Freund's Adjuvant
Hardness
Mandibular Condyle / diagnostic imaging
Mandibular Condyle / pathology
Osteoarthritis* / diagnostic imaging
Osteoarthritis* / pathology
Rats
Temporomandibular Joint / diagnostic imaging
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* / diagnostic imaging
X-Ray Microtomography

Substances

Freund's Adjuvant