RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Extracellular matrix components play a significant role in maintaining tissue integrity and pathological processes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This study aimed to evaluate the influence of a soft diet on the mRNA expression of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) linked to proteoglycan core proteins in rat TMJ discs. METHODS: Thirty 4-week-old male Wistar rats were assigned to one of two groups: a control group fed a regular pellet diet and a soft diet group fed a powdered diet for 4 weeks. The mRNA expression levels of 12 proteoglycans in TMJ discs were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, histomorphometric and biochemical analyses were performed to evaluate the thickness and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), GAG, and water content of the TMJ discs. RESULTS: The TMJ disc thickness in the anterior, intermediate, and posterior bands decreased significantly in the soft diet group. The GAG content decreased significantly in the soft-diet group, whereas no significant differences in DNA content or water content ratio were observed between the groups. Real-time PCR indicated that the expression levels of aggrecan, versican, biglycan, decorin, fibromodulin, lumican, and chondroadherin decreased in the soft diet group. The expression levels of all versican isoforms decreased in the soft diet group. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the biomechanical environment of the TMJ caused by a soft diet is closely related to the expression of proteoglycans in TMJ discs, which may eventually increase the fragility of the TMJ discs.