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Electrical Conductivity Method to Determine Sexual Dimorphisms in Human Temporomandibular Disc Fixed Charge Density

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Abstract

To investigate potential mechanisms associated with the increased prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders among women, the study objective was to determine sex-dependent and region-dependent differences in fixed charge density (FCD) using an electrical conductivity method. Seventeen TMJ discs were harvested from nine males (77 ± 4 years) and eight females (86 ± 4 years). Specimens were prepared from the anterior band, posterior band, intermediate zone, medial disc and lateral disc. FCD was determined using an electrical conductivity method, assessing differences among disc regions and between sexes. Statistical modeling showed significant effects for donor sex (p = 0.002), with cross-region FCD for male discs 0.051 ± 0.018 milliequivalent moles per gram (mEq/g) wet tissue and 0.043 ± 0.020 mEq/g wet tissue for female discs. FCD was significantly higher for male discs compared to female discs in the posterior band, with FCD 0.063 ± 0.015 mEq/g wet tissue for male discs and 0.032 ± 0.020 mEq/g wet tissue for female discs (p = 0.050). These results indicate FCD contributes approximately 20% towards TMJ disc compressive modulus, through osmotic swelling pressure regulation. Additionally, FCD regulates critical extracellular ionic/osmotic and nutrient environments. Sexual dimorphisms in TMJ disc FCD, and resulting differences in extracellular ionic/osmotic and nutrient environments, could result in altered mechano–electro-chemical environments between males and females and requires further study.

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Acknowledgments

This Project was supported by NIH Grants DE018741 and DE021134, a NIH F31 Pre-doctoral Fellowship DE023482 to GJW, and a NIH T32 Post-doctoral Fellowship DE017551 to MCC.

Conflict of Interest

None of the authors of this paper have a conflict of interest that might be construed as affecting the conduct or reporting of the work presented.

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Author notes

  1. Gregory J. Wright and Matthew C. Coombs have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 173 Ashley Avenue MSC 508, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Gregory J. Wright, Matthew C. Coombs, Yongren Wu, Brooke J. Damon, Xiaojing Chen & Hai Yao

  2. Department of Oral Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC, USA

    Matthew C. Coombs, Brooke J. Damon, Michael J. Kern & Hai Yao

  3. Center for Anatomical Studies and Education, MUSC, Charleston, SC, USA

    Thierry H. Bacro

  4. Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, 72 Xiangya Rd, Changsha, China

    Xiaojing Chen

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  1. Gregory J. Wright
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Correspondence to Xiaojing Chen or Hai Yao.

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Associate Editor Michael S. Detamore oversaw the review of this article.

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Wright, G.J., Coombs, M.C., Wu, Y. et al. Electrical Conductivity Method to Determine Sexual Dimorphisms in Human Temporomandibular Disc Fixed Charge Density. Ann Biomed Eng 46, 310–317 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-017-1963-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-017-1963-9

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