Effect of low masticatory force on histomorphology of the mandibular condyle in growing rats

Objective: To estimate the effect of low masticatory force on the size of the mandibular condyle and the condylar cartilage thickness in rats soon after weaning. Methods: Sixteen 18 days old rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received normal hard diet the other group received powder soft diet. The experimental period was 4 weeks. One condyle of each rat was used for gross morphometric analysis,the other condyle was used for histologic analysis. Results: The gross measurements made on the condyles show that both the length and width of condyle in soft diet group were significantly smaller than in the hard group. Significant difference was also found in the carilage thickness,soft diet group having a thinner carilage. Conclusion: Low masticatory force leads to decreased growth of the mandibular condyle and changes in the thickness of the carilage.