The Effects of Short Period Mechanical Loading on Type I Collagen and Aggrecan mRNA Expression of Goat TMJ Disc Fibrochondrocytes

The study was to examine the effect of short-term compression to the mRNA signal level in extra cellular matrix metabolism of goat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. According to previous studies on articular chondrocytes, the loading levels were determined at 0.2MPa 1Hz. The passage-two (p2) cells encapsulated in alginate gel were exposed to six kinds of continuous or intermittent compressive loading over 24h, and one nonloading negative control group was designed. The short duration of continuous (C3) and intermittent (I3) loading did increase aggarecan by 4.4 ± 0.18 fold collagen type ² by 2.57 ± 0.2 fold (mean ± SD), respectively. The results suggested that mechanical stimulation may play an important role in regulating metabolism of TMJ disc tissues.