Tingey T F, Shapiro P A
Am J Orthod. 1982 Jun;81(6):455-64. doi: 10.1016/0002-9416(82)90423-7.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the relative importance of the condyle in mandibular growth. Activated papain, a protease which inhibits endochondral growth, was injected for 4 weeks into the left temporomandibular joints of growing rabbits. Histologic and morphologic changes were evaluated microscopically and by measurement of dried skulls and serial cephalometric radiographs. The injected condyles showed a rapid but temporary depletion of the cartilage matrix. Repeated injections produced severe arthritic changes in some cases. The papain caused a significant decrease in vertical ramal growth. Mandibular length was unaffected. The unilateral injections also produced vertical asymmetry characterized by a canting of the mandibular plane superiorly toward the injected side. It was concluded that, in the rabbit, condylar growth is essential for normal vertical growth of the ramus but has little influence on the length of the mandible.
本研究的目的是阐明髁突在下颌骨生长中的相对重要性。将活化木瓜蛋白酶（一种抑制软骨内生长的蛋白酶）注射到生长中的兔子的左颞下颌关节中，持续4周。通过显微镜检查以及对干燥颅骨和系列头颅侧位X线片的测量来评估组织学和形态学变化。注射后的髁突显示软骨基质迅速但短暂地减少。在某些情况下，重复注射会产生严重的关节炎变化。木瓜蛋白酶导致下颌支垂直生长显著减少。下颌骨长度未受影响。单侧注射还产生了垂直不对称，表现为下颌平面向上朝向注射侧倾斜。得出的结论是，在兔子中，髁突生长对于下颌支的正常垂直生长至关重要，但对下颌骨长度影响很小。
