Occlusal disharmony increases stress response in rats.
Repeated or chronic stress is known to produce structural and functional changes in the rat brain, and in particular, alter the response of the hypothalamic -- pituitary -- adrenal (HPA) axis to subsequent new stress. Occlusal disharmony via placement of acryl cap on the lower incisors of rats is perceived as chronic stress. To determine the response of the HPA axis to subsequent new stress in rats with occlusal disharmony, we measured plasma corticosterone levels in these rats after subjecting them to new stress. Plasma corticosterone levels in rats with and without incisal cap increased and reached a peak 30 min after exposure to the new stress. However, a later decrease in plasma corticosterone levels from peak levels was found in rats with incisal cap compared with rats without incisal cap. This finding suggests that occlusal disharmony alters the response of the HPA axis to subsequent new stress.
Yoshihara
Toshihiro
T
Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Oral Functional Science, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, North 13, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan. tyoshi03@den.hokudai.ac.jp
Taneichi
Risa
R
Yawaka
Yasutaka
Y
D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D007180:Incisor / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D003345:Corticosterone