Abstract:

Objective　The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of collagen in the process of masseter muscle reattachment to the cortical and cancellous bones ofmandible.Methods　Atotal of nine adult goatswere used in the study. Onewas the control. The other eight were treated with bilateral detachment of the masseter muscles. The biopsies of bone and muscle were taken at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the operation. The characteristics of the healing muscle-bone interfaceswere examined using im- munohistochemical techniques.Results　Immunohistochemical analysis illustrated that the locations of collagen typeⅠ,ⅡandⅢ were different during the healing process, but similar in the cortical and cancellous bones.Conclusion　This study demonstrates that the distribution of the three types of collagens at the muscle-bone interfaces is associated with time, but not related with their loca- tions.

Key words: masseter muscle, mandible reattachment interface, immunohistochemistry