Changes in the Rat Cartilaginous Nasal Septum after Lateral Expansion of the Maxillary Arch

Abstract

We studied the role of the cartilaginous nasal septum in maxillofacial growth by expanding the maxillary arch of 100 growing rats, and comparing them with 50 controls. We took measurements on serial cephalograms and prepared histological sections of both groups.
     There was no significant difference in weight gain between the experimental and control animals. The direction of maxillofacial growth changed from downward-forward to forward, with the greatest directional change being at 2-4 weeks. Although histological changes were seen in the cartilaginous nasal septum and surrounding tissues of the expanded animals at 1-4 weeks, no changes were seen after 7 weeks.
      The present experiment proved that the cartilaginous nasal septum plays an important role in the craniofacial growth of the young rat.