The mechanism of pain caused by oral mucosal ulcers associated with dry mouth

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09988
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57050:Prosthodontics-related
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: LEE Jun 日本大学, 歯学部, 講師 (10386055)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大原 絹代 日本大学, 歯学部, 助教 (10731606) ; 岡田 真治 日本大学, 歯学部, 助教 (60844008)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔乾燥 / 感覚異常 / 口腔粘膜 / 義歯

Outline of Final Research Achievements

With regarding the pain caused in the oral mucosa related to dry mouth, there are few basic studies, and the details of the neural mechanisms and pathology of this pain are unknown. In this study, using a rat model of oral dryness in which salivary glands were excised, mechanisms of pain onset in the oral mucosa related to the development of dry mouth were elucidated with behavioral pharmacological and immunohistological techniques. Resection of salivary glands caused dryness in the oral cavity of rats, resulting in an increase in water consumption. Behavioral experiments showed that dryness of the oral cavity may cause sensory dysfunction in the oral mucosal area of rats. Furthermore, immunohistological experiments indicate that ROS and TRPA1 are likely involved in sensory dysfunction.

Free Research Field

歯科補綴学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔乾燥症の患者を対象として有床義歯補綴治療を行う場合、単純な粘膜面の避圧処置では良好な結果は得られず、疼痛管理が非常に難しい。診断ミスや誤った治療法の選択を防ぐには、口腔内で起こる神経性疼痛や違和感の発症機構が解明され、術者がそのメカニズムを理解する必要がある。
本研究で得られた、口腔乾燥モデルラットの口腔粘膜部における感覚異常の発現に、活性酸素種とTRPA1が関与している可能性が高いという結果は、口腔乾燥に関連する口腔粘膜の疼痛に対する補綴学的新規治療法および診断法の開発に対して重要な基礎データを与えるものと考える。