Free-radical Oxidation and Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Synovial Fluid of Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

Aims: To measure the activity of oxygen free radicals and the level of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the syn-ovial fluid (SF) of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Methods: Thirty-two patients were divided into 3 subgroups: anterior disc displacement with reduction, anterior disc displacement without reduction, and osteoarthrosis. Six healthy volunteers served as controls. A pumping procedure was used to take SF from the supe-rior TMJ space. The concentration of lipid peroxidation products was assessed by means of the thiobarbituric acid reaction, and the level of SOD was assessed with spectrophotometry. Results: SF levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) in the control and patient groups were 0.010 (± 0.004) × 10–3 nmol/mg protein and 0.61 (± 0.121) × 10–3 nmol/mg protein, respectively. SF SOD levels were 4.61 (± 1.30) NU/mg protein and 9.83 (± 2.66) NU/mg protein, respec-tively. Both the concentration of LPO and the level of SOD activ-ity were significantly higher in the TMD patients than in the nor-mal control subjects (P < .001 and P < .01, respectively). There were no significant differences in the level of LPO or SOD between the 3 subgroups. Conclusion: These results demonstrate oxygen free radicals and antioxidant enzymes may be connected in the pathogenesis of TMD.

lipid peroxides; oxygen free radicals; superoxidedismutase; synovial fluid; temporomandibular disorders

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