title: A clinically relevant animal model of temporomandibular disorder and irritable bowel syndrome comorbidity.
abstract: Temporomandibular disorder and irritable bowel syndrome are comorbid functional chronic pain disorders of unknown etiology that are triggered/exacerbated by stress. Here we present baseline phenotypic characterization of a novel animal model to gain insight into the underlying mechanisms that contribute to such comorbid pain conditions. In this model, chronic visceral hypersensitivity, a defining symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, is dependent on 3 factors: estradiol, existing chronic somatic pain, and stress. In ovariectomized rats, estradiol replacement followed by craniofacial muscle injury and stress induced visceral hypersensitivity that persisted for months. Omission of any 1 factor resulted in a transient (1 week) visceral hypersensitivity from stress alone or no hypersensitivity (no inflammation or estradiol). Maintenance of visceral hypersensitivity was estradiol dependent, resolving when estradiol replacement ceased. Referred cutaneous hypersensitivity was concurrent with visceral hypersensitivity. Increased spinal Fos expression suggests induction of central sensitization. These data demonstrate the development and maintenance of visceral hypersensitivity in estradiol-replaced animals following distal somatic injury and stress that mimics some characteristics reported in patients with temporomandibular disorder and comorbid irritable bowel syndrome. This new animal model is a powerful experimental tool that can be employed to gain further mechanistic insight into overlapping pain conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients with temporomandibular disorder report symptoms consistent with irritable bowel syndrome. Stress and female prevalence are common to both conditions. In a new experimental paradigm in ovariectomized rats with estradiol replacement, masseter inflammation followed by stress induces visceral hypersensitivity that persists for months, modeling these comorbid pain conditions.
authors: Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland; UMB Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: rtraub@umaryland.edu.
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Traub
authors: Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: Dong-Yuan
authors: DY
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Karpowicz
authors: Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: Sangeeta
authors: S
authors: Pandya
authors: Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: Yaping
authors: Y
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland; UMB Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: Susan G
authors: SG
authors: Dorsey
authors: Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland; UMB Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: Dean
authors: D
authors: Dessem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015897:Comorbidity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004958:Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Comorbid pain; estrogen; irritable bowel syndrome; stress; temporomandibular disorder; visceral hypersensitivity