This study was performed to investigate the changes of mandibular condyle by low calcium diet and the effects of irradiation on the bone in osteoporotic state. In order to carry out this experiment, 80 seven-week old Sprague-Dawley strain rats weighing about 150 gm were selected and equally divided into one experimental group of 40 rats and one control group with the remainder. The experimental group and the control group were then subdivided into two group and exposed to irradiation. The two irradiation groups received a single dose of 20 Gy on the jaw area only and irradiated with a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. The rats in the control and experimental groups were serially terminated by fours on the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th, and the 21st day after irradiation. After termination, both sides of the dead rats mandibular condyle were removed and fixed with 10% neutral formalin. The bone mineral density of mandibular condyle was measured by use of dual energy X-ray bone densitometer(model DDX-alpha, Lunn Corp., U. S. A.). The mandibular condyle was radiographed with Hitex HA-80(Hitex Co., Japan). Thereafter, the obtained radiographs were observed, and the mandibular condyle was further decalcified and embedded in paraffin as the general method. The specimen sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, PAS and Rabbit Anti-Human Tumor Necrosis Factor-a observed by a light microscope. The obtained results were as follows: 1. In the non-irradiated group with the low calcium diet, the bone mineral density of the condyle was markedly decreased after 14 days, and decrease the number of trabeculae of the condyle and resorption of the calcified cartilaginous zone were observed after 3 days. On microscopic observations, the number nd size of trabeculae were decreased after 7 days of experiment. 2. In the irradiated group with the low calcium diet, the bone mineral density of the condyle was markedly decreased after 14 days and resorption of the calcified cartilaginous zone and decrease the number and coarse of the trabeculae of the condyle were observed. These findings were extended rather than in non-irradiated group with low calcium diet. On microscopic observations, many osteoclasts were detected and the number and size of trabeculae were somewhat decreased after 7 days. Also there was degenerative changes of tissues of bone marrow on the 14th day but that condition was restored on the 21st day of experiment. 3. In the irradiated group with normal diet, the bone mineral density of the condyle was somewhat decreased with times and degree of decrease of the number of trabeculae was somewhat larger than in the non-irradiated group with normal diet. On microscopic observations, the tissues of bone marrow were atrophic and degenerative changes but that condition was restored on the 21st day of experiment. 4. In immunocytochemical findings, in the irradiated and non-irradiated groups with low calcium diet, negative or partial positive response to TNF was observed, but positive response in the normal diet groups.