Immunohistochemical study on the effect of vitamin C deficiency and ovariectomy in the rat mandibular condyle

Abstract

I examined the effect of vitamin C deficiency and ovariectomy on the mandibular condyles.Eight-week-old female Wistar rats and non-ascorbate-synthesizing ODS rats were used in the experiment.The Wistar rats that received no operation were Group 1, and those that were ovariectomized were Group 2.The ODS rats with no operation were Group 3, and those that were ovariectomized were Group 4.All animals were sacrificed at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after operation.Group 1 is the control group.The mandibular condyles were investigated histologically and immunohistochemically using polyclonal antibodies for types I, II and X collagen.The bone and cartilage became fragile and endochondral ossification in the condylar cartilage was disrupted with vitamin C deficiency, and these effects were accelerated by the ovariectomy.