Neural mechanisms by which exercise therapy reduces psychosocial stress-induced orofacial pain.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17133
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Hasegawa Mana 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 講師 (90779620)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 疼痛 / ストレス / 運動療法 / マウス / トレッドミル / 三叉神経脊髄路核尾側亜核

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Stress is known to be an enhancing factor for pain in diseases with chronic pain in the maxillofacial region, the main symptom of which is found in dentistry. On the other hand, stress is inevitable and should be controlled by daily stress relief. We have previously reported that the central mechanism of stress-induced pain is the modulation of the function of the Vc region. This study focused on exercise therapy, which has recently been attracting attention as a stress reduction method, with the aim of elucidating the effects of exercise therapy on stress-induced maxillofacial pain and its central mechanisms.
In male mice model SDS, pain-related behaviors by masseter muscle formalin test and expression of c-Fos and FosB proteins in Vc were quantified as indices. The group that exercised once every 3 days showed no significant improvement in nociceptive response and increased Vc excitability. The above results were submitted to an English journal.

Free Research Field

口腔生理学　疼痛学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在、慢性疼痛の治療法として非薬理学的なアプローチの開発が期待されている。本研究では低強度の身体的運動が、中枢神経系の機能変調への介入効果により、ストレス誘発性の顎顔面痛を軽減できることを動物モデルを用いて明らかにした。本研究結果は歯科臨床系の雑誌にもトピックとして取り上げられ、身体的運動が単なるストレス解消や健康増進だけでなく、顎関節症に代表される歯科領域の慢性痛への対応の一助となる可能性を広く示すことができた。