Localization of lymph capillaries and blood capillaries in human temporomandibular joint discs

The localization of lymph capillaries and blood capillaries in the human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs was examined immunohistologically with anti-human collagen IV antibody and anti-human von Willebrand factor in 26 human TMJ samples. The 16 internal derangement cases were then compared with the 10 normal control cases. The findings suggested that blood capillaries scarcely existed in all the fields of normal control TMJ discs (5/270, 1.9%) nor did lymph capillaries exist in the normal TMJ discs (0/270, 0%). New growth of blood capillaries had localized in all fields of the internal derangement discs specimens (113/378, 29.9%) and was concentrated in the lower area of the posterior part of the discs. The authors also observed a small distribution of lymph capillaries in all fields of this material (17/378, 4.5%). The new growth of lymph capillaries were always related to the blood capillary distribution and therefore their presence might be directly related to the capillary proliferation.