SEX-RELATED OPIATE AND AUTONOMIC MECHANISMS IN TMD PAIN

颞下颌关节紊乱病（TMD）的一个家庭的条件，造成 颞下颌关节（TMJ）区域和周围深部疼痛 颅面肌 虽然TMD的病因可能各不相同，但这 面部疼痛状况通常伴随着长期的变化， 感觉、运动反射和自主神经功能表明 功能障碍 值得注意的是，TMD在女性中的患病率高于男性。 男人和他的本性。 尽管有证据表明 中枢神经功能障碍，大脑机制知之甚少 TMD疼痛的必要条件 这一提议的核心假设是， TMD疼痛的性别相关差异至少部分存在于 三叉神经脊束核内二级神经元的水平， 上颈后角 因为供应组织的神经元 颞下颌关节区的三叉神经脑干复合体终止， 上颈髓内二级神经元的活动 这些区域必须在确定 伤害感受的各个方面（例如，自主感觉辨别 反射，下行控制的募集）。 拟议的研究使用 选择性激活小直径传入神经的动物模型 和会聚方法（c-fos）免疫细胞化学，体内 微透析，单神经元电生理学），以检查 接受有害感觉输入的二级神经元的特性 从颞下颌关节区域的麻醉雄性和雌性大鼠。 具体 目的是研究众所周知的内源性疼痛激活剂的作用 控制系统，吗啡和迷走神经传入神经活动，以评估 雄性和雌性大鼠颞下颌关节反应神经元的特性。的 这项研究的长期目标是更好地了解 大脑内分泌自主神经的相互作用在口面疼痛处理。 短期目标是确定阿片和迷走神经的参与 三叉神经脑干水平的传入神经机制 一种复合物，在颞下颌关节发炎后可能具有镇痛作用 地区

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) to a family of conditions that cause pain of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region and surrounding deep craniofacial muscles. Although the etiology of TMD's may vary, this facial pain condition is commonly accompanied by long-term changes in sensory, motor reflex and autonomic function suggesting a central dysfunction. TMD is notable for its higher prevalence in women than in men and for its recurrent nature. Despite evidence for an underlying central neural dysfunction, little is known of the brain mechanisms necessary for TMD pain. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that sex-related differences in TMD pain reside, at least in part, at the level of second-order neurons within the spinal trigeminal nucleus and upper cervical dorsal horn. Since the neurons that supply the tissues of the TMJ region terminate in the trigeminal brainstem complex and upper cervical spinal cord, the activity of second-order neurons within these regions must assume a critical importance in determining the various aspects of nociception (e.g., sensory-discrimination, autonomic reflexes, recruitment of descending controls). The proposed studies use an animal model to selectively activate small diameter afferent nerves and converging methodologies (c-fos) immunocytochemistry, in vivo microdialysis, single neuron electrophysiology) to examine the properties of second-order neurons that receive noxious sensory input from the TMJ region in anesthetized male and female rats. The Specific Aims examine the effects of the well-known activators of endogenous pain control systems, morphine and vagal afferent nerve activity, to assess the properties of TMJ-responsive neurons in male and female rats. The long-term goal of this research is to better understand the influences of brain-endocrine-autonomic interactions in orofacial pain processing. The shorter term goal is to define the involvement of opiate and vagal afferent nerve mechanisms at the level of the trigeminal brainstem complex that may have analgesic effects after inflammation of the TMJ region.