title: Dysregulation of the descending pain system in temporomandibular disorders revealed by low-frequency sensory transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: a pupillometric study.
abstract: Using computerized pupillometry, our previous research established that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is dysregulated in patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), suggesting a potential role for ANS dysfunction in pain modulation and the etiology of TMD. However, pain modulation hypotheses for TMD are still lacking. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is involved in the descending modulation of defensive behavior and pain through μ, κ, and δ opioid receptors. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been extensively used for pain relief, as low-frequency stimulation can activate µ receptors. Our aim was to use pupillometry to evaluate the effect of low-frequency TENS stimulation of μ receptors on opioid descending pathways in TMD patients. In accordance with the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD, 18 females with myogenous TMD and 18 matched-controls were enrolled. All subjects underwent subsequent pupillometric evaluations under dark and light conditions before, soon after (end of stimulation) and long after (recovery period) sensorial TENS. The overall statistics derived from the darkness condition revealed no significant differences in pupil size between cases and controls; indeed, TENS stimulation significantly reduced pupil size in both groups. Controls, but not TMD patients, displayed significant differences in pupil size before compared with after TENS. Under light conditions, TMD patients presented a smaller pupil size compared with controls; the pupil size was reduced only in the controls. Pupil size differences were found before and during TENS and before and after TENS in the controls only. Pupillometry revealed that stimulating the descending opioid pathway with low-frequency sensory TENS of the fifth and seventh pairs of cranial nerves affects the peripheral target. The TMD patients exhibited a different pattern of response to TENS stimulation compared with the controls, suggesting that impaired modulation of the descending pain system may be involved in TMD.
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Building Delta 6 Dental Unit, St Salvatore Hospital-Via Vetoio 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Building Delta 6 Dental Unit, St Salvatore Hospital-Via Vetoio 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Ruggero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mesin
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Building Delta 6 Dental Unit, St Salvatore Hospital-Via Vetoio 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortu
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Building Delta 6 Dental Unit, St Salvatore Hospital-Via Vetoio 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannoni
authors.affiliation: University of L'Aquila, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Building Delta 6 Dental Unit, St Salvatore Hospital-Via Vetoio 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietropaoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011957:Receptors, Opioid