The long term objective of this project is to develop an animal model system to study viral induced degenerative changes in temporomandibular joints. This pilot study is designed to see if viral lesions can be induced in hamster temporomandibular joint tissues with a rat virus that is known to produce craniofacial and dental abnormalities in hamsters. Specifically, hamsters will be inoculated with rat virus and will be sacrificed at 14, 21, or 28 days post-inoculation. The temporomandibular joint tissues will be removed and then processed for light microscopic study. Representative tissue sections will be stained with hematoxyalin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, periodic acid Schiff's reagent or resorcin fuchsin in order to study the morphologic effects of the viral infection on the temporomandibular joint tissues. If the joint tissues are susceptible to the viral infection, then we plan to propose additional studies to determine the specific cells involved in the infection using DNA probes. In addition, future studies will employ autoradiographic and morphometric techniques to study the effects of the virus on collagen and elastin production and distribution. This approach may allow us to better understand the specific cells involved in the arthropathy that we hypothesize will result from viral infection.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03DE007886-01A1
Application #
3425156
Study Section
NIDR Special Grants Review Committee (DSR)
Project Start
1987-08-01
Project End
1988-07-31
Budget Start
1987-08-01
Budget End
1988-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical College of Georgia (MCG)
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry/Oral Hygn
DUNS #
City
Augusta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30912
O'Dell, N L; Starcher, B C; Wilson, J T et al. (1990) Morphological and biochemical evidence for elastic fibres in the Syrian hamster temporomandibular joint disc. Arch Oral Biol 35:807-11