Histological and histomorphometric investigation of the condylar cartilage of juvenile pigs after anterior mandibular displacement

As a result, the experimental animals displayed a significantly increased total cartilage thickness of the posterocranial mandibular condyle which was primarily caused by an increase in thickness of the hypertrophic and chondogenic layers. Similarly, the proliferative layer showed a significant increase, whereas significant differences in thickness were absent in the articular layer. Increased cell proliferation was not observed in the experimental animals as compared to the controls. The changes found in the condylar cartilage area suggest that the zonal structure of the conylar cartilage may be modified by an altered spatial relationship between the mandibular condyle and the glenoid fossa.