A role for cyclooxygenase II inhibitors in modulating temporomandibular joint inflammation from a meal pattern analysis perspective.
OBJECTIVE
Developing a valid noninvasive animal model to study temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation/pain has proved difficult. However, its has been recently demonstrated that meal pattern analysis, and in particular meal duration, can be used as a biologic marker for TMJ inflammation/pain induced by bilateral injections of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The present study was undertaken to confirm previous findings and extend them by using rofecoxib (VIOXX; Merck and Co, West Point, PA), a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (COX-2-I).


METHODS
Forty-eight male rats were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: group 1, no CFA and no COX-2-I treatment; group 2, no CFA and treatment with the COX-2-I; group 3, bilateral TMJ CFA injection and no COX-2-I treatment; and group 4, CFA injection and treatment with the COX-2-I. Food intake was recorded by computer 24 hours before and for 48 hours after CFA injection. TMJ swelling, chromodacryorrhea, and meal patterns were quantified.


RESULTS
CFA increased swelling (P <.05), chromodaccryorrhea (P <.05), meal duration at 24 and 48 hours, and TMJ retrodiscal tissue interleukin-1beta (P < 0.01) in group 3, but treatment with the COX-2-I attenuated these effects in group 4, (CFA + COX-2-I).


CONCLUSIONS
These data confirm that meal pattern analysis, and in particular meal duration, is a noninvasive measure of TMJ inflammation/pain. However, this experiment has extended this model as a marker of drug treatment efficacy, specifically the efficacy of COX-2-I in treatment of orofacial inflammation/pain.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75266, USA.
Carolyn
C
Kerins
David
D
Carlson
James
J
McIntosh
Larry
L
Bellinger
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013450:Sulfones; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D010544:Peroxidases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases