Abstract
A seventy six young albino rats were used in the present study. They
were divided into three groups. The first group included 36 rats which
were subdivided into two subgroups: Subgroup A, included 16 rats from
birth to weaning; 4 animals were killed at birth, 5, 10, and 20 days. Subgroup
B, included 20 rats that were fed an ordinary pellets (cereal grains)
and 4 animals were killed at the ages of 25, 30, 40, 50 and 55 days.
The second group included 20 rats which were fed a hard diet ( pellets
with honey which prepared in a mincing machine and dried in a current
of warm air) and 4 animals were killed at the age of 25, 30, 40, 50
and 55 days. The third group included 20 rats that were fed a soft diet
(milk) and 4 animals were killed at the ages of 25, 30, 40, 50and 55
days. The effect of these differences in dietary consistency on the growth
of the mandibular condyle were examined histologically. Sections were
stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain for general structure of the tissues
and with Masson 's trichrorne stain for collagen fobres. The sections
were examined with the ordinary light microscope.
Generally the soft diet rat had smaller condyles with decresed thickness
of the condylar cartilage. The subchondral bone trabeculae were decreased
in size and number and separated by large opened marrow
spaces and the compact bones were decreased in thickness as compared
to those of the ordinary and hard diet group. On the other hand, in the
ordinary diet group; the condylar cartilage and the subchondral bone Mabeculae
were increased in thickness and number but to a lesser degree
in comparison to the hard diet group.The compact bone incrctsed in thickness
in both ordinary and hard diet groups. The soft diet diminished the |
