Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are associated with chronic and debilitating pain. These far too common disorders, affecting up 15% of American adults, are often resistant to traditional therapies effective for pain treatment in other areas of the body, possibly reflecting unique properties of primary afferent neurons innervating the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Furthermore, there is an increased prevalence and severity of TMD pain in women versus men. Epidemiological, clinical, and animal experimental evidence suggests that estrogen may contribute to the pathophysiology of TMD pain. Therefore, we propose to test the hypothesis that estrogen increases the excitability of trigeminal primary afferent neurons innervating the TMJ Pain associated with TMD may also reflect TMJ inflammation. In the presence of inflammation, primary afferent neurons become sensitized, displaying spontaneous activity and/or a leftward shift in the stimulus- response function. Therefore, we also propose to test the hypothesis that estrogen exacerbates the inflammation-induced sensitization of primary afferent neurons innervating the TMJ. To test these hypotheses, we will perform experiments described under the following Specific Aims.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
5F30DE014303-04
Application #
6774765
Study Section
NIDCR Special Grants Review Committee (DSR)
Program Officer
Hardwick, Kevin S
Project Start
2002-09-01
Project End
Budget Start
2004-09-01
Budget End
2005-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$34,984
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
188435911
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
Flake, Natasha M; Bonebreak, David B; Gold, Michael S (2005) Estrogen and inflammation increase the excitability of rat temporomandibular joint afferent neurons. J Neurophysiol 93:1585-97
Flake, Natasha M; Gold, Michael S (2005) Inflammation alters sodium currents and excitability of temporomandibular joint afferents. Neurosci Lett 384:294-9