title: Splenius muscle activities induced by temporomandibular joint stimulation in rats.
abstract: Recent studies show that temporomandibular joint disorders cause hyperalgesia and deficits in the postural control of cervical region. However, the effects of specific modalities of receptors in the temporomandibular joint area on these phenomena are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the neck muscle activities while natural mechanical stimulation was applied to the temporomandibular joint. Single motor unit activities were recorded bilaterally from the splenius muscles in 22 Wistar rats. Mechanical stimulation applied to the left temporomandibular joint elicited tonic discharges in the left or right splenius muscle. The mean threshold values for mechanical stimulation were 48.1 (+/-16.2 S.E.M.) and 54.1 mN (+/-16.3 S.E.M.) for left and right sides, respectively. It is suggested that the temporomandibular joint mechanoreceptors not only affect the motor unit activities of neck muscles, but also are concerned in the regulation of postural control of the head.
authors.affiliation: Orthodontic Science, Department of Orofacial Development and Function, Division of Oral Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan. kobyorts@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Tadachika
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yabushita
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zeredo
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Kunimichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D007839:Functional Laterality; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology