Influence of temporomandibular joint pain on sleep patterns: role of nitric oxide.
Since nitric oxide is related to nociception and the sleep-wake cycle, this study sought to determine its involvement in the altered sleep pattern in a temporomandibular joint pain model by investigating the effect of the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME) and that of its precursor (L-arginine). The temporomandibular joints of test animals were injected with Freund's adjuvant or saline, and their sleep was recorded. The procedure was repeated after the administration of L-NAME and L-arginine. L-NAME increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in the control group. The orofacial pain group showed a reduction in total sleep time and an increase in sleep latency compared with the SHAM group. L-NAME increased sleep time, non-rapid eye movement (NREM), and REM sleep and reduced sleep latency in the orofacial pain group. L-arginine did not alter sleep parameters. Thus, L-NAME improved sleep efficiency, whereas L-arginine did not modify it, suggesting the involvement of nitric oxide in painful temporomandibular joint conditions.
Schütz
T C B
TC
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 925 Vila Clementino SP-04024-002, SP, Brazil. tschutz@psicobio.epm.br
Andersen
M L
ML
Tufik
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000150:complications; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester