phosphocreatine and Facial-Pain

The masseter muscles of six nonbruxing subjects (five men, one woman) and six bruxing subjects (four men, two women) were assessed during chewing by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-NMR). The NMR spectra were collected on a GE Sigma 1.5T whole body magnet with a double-tuned 31P/1H surface coil. Two-minute trials of rest/chewing/rest were completed three times. Averaged spectra of inorganic phosphate, phosphocreatine, and three adenosine 5' triphosphate peaks were collected in each trial. Bruxing subjects had a lower concentration of total phosphate and phosphocreatine than nonbruxing (control) subjects at rest. Bruxing subjects increased their inorganic phosphate during chewing significantly less than control subjects. The pH levels during rest and during chewing were similar in both controls and bruxers. These preliminary results suggest that bruxing subjects exhibit an altered phosphate metabolism during rest and exhibit a different phosphate metabolism pattern during chewing as compared to nonbruxing subjects.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Bruxism; Case-Control Studies; Energy Metabolism; Facial Pain; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Linear Models; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Masseter Muscle; Mastication; Myosins; Phosphates; Phosphocreatine; Phosphorus Isotopes; Statistics, Nonparametric

Masseter muscle metabolism is poorly understood. 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) provides an opportunity for non-invasive study of muscle metabolism during rest, exercise, and recovery. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in high-energy phosphates and pH in human masseter muscle associated with exertional pain. Phosphates and pH were measured with 31P Magnetic Resonance at 2.0 Tesla. The bite force was simultaneously measured with a force transducer. Continuous biting at maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF) and two intermittent biting exercises with different duty cycles were performed to pain intolerance. The light intermittent exercise did not produce pain. Brief MVBF requested at the beginning, during, and end of each exercise showed no decay. Qualitatively, changes in phosphates were similar to those reported from comparable limb muscle exercises: increased inorganic phosphate (Pi), decreased phosphocreatine (PCr), and no changes in ATP level. Quantitatively, however, the Pi/PCr ratio did not reach the levels reported in limb muscles during similar exercises. Also, the pH changed very little. Thus, the lack of fatigue was no surprise, since the level of changes in Pi/PCr and pH, reported to be associated with fatigue in limb muscles, was far less in the masseter. Pain development toward the end of the heavy exercises prevented further depletion of metabolites. Thus, the lack of fatigue generally postulated for the masseter muscle may not be due to resistance to fatigue of these fibers, but rather to the presence of pain preventing the fatigue. However, no specific metabolic changes associated with exertional pain were found.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Bite Force; Energy Metabolism; Facial Pain; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Masseter Muscle; Muscle Contraction; Muscle Fatigue; Phosphates; Phosphocreatine; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Physical Endurance