Reversibility of systemic corticosteroid-induced mandibular osteoarthritis: an experimental study in A/J mice

Immature A/J mice were treated for up to seven weeks with intermittent systemic doses of triamcinolone hexacetonide (4 mg/kg body weight) and were than allowed to recover for seven weeks. Morphological studies were performed on the mandibular condylar cortilage of treated and control animals. By the third dose, obvious structural changes were seen within the cartilaginous matrix. The latter appeared first in the midst of the condylar cartilage and, in the more severe cases, also involved the articular surface. The hormonal catabolic influence intensified progessively so that by the end of the experimental period, most condyles had undergone severe degenerative changes in the form of cartilage fibrillation and ulceration. After the recovery period, experimental condyles had regained their normal appearance. Thus, although intermittent systemic administration of corticosteroid hormone tends to induce osteoarthritic changes in the mandibular joint of the mouse, the mice possess the capacity to undergo full recovery shortly after the termination of the hormonal treatment.