Fig. 1

Condylar subchondral bone loss was rapidly occurred in the early stage of ADD. (A) Micro-CT images of the condyles at 1-week and 8-week after sham or ADD surgery. The yellow arrows show articular surface erosion. Scale bar: 1 mm. (B, C) Quantitative analysis of BMD (B) and Tb.Th (C) in subchondral bone of the TMJ condylar heads determined by micro-CT measurements at 1-week and 8-week after sham or ADD surgery. Statistical analysis was determined by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test. (D, E) Representative images (D) and quantitative analysis (E) of CD68⁺ cells in subchondral bone of condyles at 1-week and 8-week after sham or ADD surgery. The black dotted line represents the demarcation between articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Scale bar: 100 μm. (F, G) Representative images (F) and quantitative analysis (G) of CTSK⁺ cells in subchondral bone of condyles at 1-week and 8-week after sham or ADD surgery. The black dotted line represents the demarcation between articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Scale bar: 100 μm. The data were presented as mean and SEM. Unpaired t test was used to compare the differences between sham and ADD surgery at the same time point. * P < 0.05. ** P < 0.01. n = 3 per group