Masseter muscle atrophy after ostectomy of the mandibular angle in rabbits

In order to get information about changes in the masseter muscle when operations are performed on the mandibular angle area, we classified 70 New Zealand White rabbits into group O (ostectomy) and group D (dissection). In group O we performed unilateral ostectomy of the mandibular angle, while in group D we performed unilateral dissection of the masseter muscle limited to the mandibular angle area. Then we compared morphologic, histologic, and histochemical changes in experimental masseter muscles with those in normal control masseter muscles. We examined 5 rabbits in each group at the following intervals: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 weeks. In group D (dissection), there were no remarkable changes at all examinations. In group O (ostectomy), there was a 30 percent decrease in experimental muscle mass compared with control muscle. On examination of muscle fiber types, a decrease in type I fibers and an increase in type IIA and IIB fibers were noticed (p < 0.05). Each experimental muscle fiber became more irregularly and angularly shaped, and mean fiber area also was reduced. Sarcomere lengths of experimental muscle fibers were significantly reduced to 80 percent of control values (p < 0.05) during the first 4 weeks, but after 6 weeks they were lengthened to control values. Collagen and fibrin did not show much difference between experimental and control muscles. All these findings imply that masseter muscle atrophy after ostectomy of the mandibular angle is not due to connective-tissue changes but to individual muscle fiber atrophy accompanied by functional adaptation of sarcomeres and changes in muscle fiber types.