Condylar Degradation from Decreased Occlusal Loading following Masticatory Muscle Atrophy

Figure 3

Condylar cartilage morphology. H-E staining illustrated a decreased cartilage thickness and decreased chondrocyte number (a–c). Compared to that in the control group, the experimental groups demonstrated a trend of condensation and reduction in cellular number (d–f). Toluidine blue staining in the SD and BTX groups revealed a faint chromatosis compared to that in the control, which might indicate a decrease in the synthesis of proteoglycans (g–i) (p<0.05;p<0.01;p<0.001). Scale: (a)–(c), (g)-(h), Bar=100 μm; (d)–(f),(i), Bar=50 μm.

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