Type II collagen expression in the mandibular condyle during growth adaptation: an experimental study in the rabbit.

An experiment was designed to mimic orthopedic functional appliances in order to investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of type II collagen secretion as a marker of cartilage maturation in the mandibular condyle of young rabbits. The position of the glenoid fossa in relation to the condyle was altered so that articulation now took place more posteriorly. Histological sections of the condyles of 15-, 20- and 30-day-old experimental and control animals were stained with toluidine blue and with an anti-type II collagen antibody. A widened progenitor cell layer was found posteriorly in the experimental condyles and a narrow layer was found anteriorly to the articulating region. The chondroblast layer was also widened posteriorly, whereas the hypertrophic cell zone was narrower; the opposite was seen anteriorly. The effect was marked in 15- and 20-day-old animals and weak in 30-day-old animals. Type II collagen stain and strong toluidine blue metachromasia were not observed in the progenitor cell zone until the chondroblasts had acquired a flattened, slightly hypertrophic morphology, which was found deeper in the experimental condyles than in the controls. This is interpreted as a slowing down of the differentiation of chondroblasts as a result of the force applied. The effect of masticatory function may also be explained in terms of delayed differentiation of chondroblasts and increased growth.