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The effectiveness of photobiomodulation in the management of temporomandibular pain sensitivity in rats: behavioral and neurochemical effects

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Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with low-level laser therapy on nociceptive behavior and neuronal activity in the trigeminal nucleus after experimental unilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc injury. The animals were divided into 4 groups (n = 10 each): group 1, surgical injury of the articular disc and PBM; group 2, sham-operated subjected to PBM; group 3, surgical injury of the articular disc; and group 4, control (Naïve). Ten sessions of PBM were performed using GaAs laser with a wavelength of 904 nm, power of 75 W pico, average power of 0.043 W, area of the beam of 0.13 cm2, duration of the pulses of 60 nseg (in the frequency of 9500 Hz), energy density of 5.95 J/cm2, energy per point of 0.7 J, and power density of 333.8 mW/cm2, and the irradiation was done for 18 s per point. Neuropathic symptoms were evaluated using the von Frey test. Trigeminal ganglion samples underwent immunoblotting to examine the expression of substance P, vanilloid transient potential receptor of subtype-1 (TRPV-1), and peptide related to the calcitonin gene (CGRP). There was a total decrease in pain sensitivity after the second session of PBM in operated animals, and this decrease remains until the last session. There was a significant decrease in the expression of SP, TRPV-1, and CGRP after PBM. Photobiomodulation therapy was effective in reducing nociceptive behavior and trigeminal nucleus neuronal activity after TMJ disc injury.

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Funding

This study was financially supported by the Brazilian funding agency FAPESP (project no. 2017/05218-5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Functional Neuroanatomy of Pain, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Alex de Freitas Rodrigues, Daniel de Oliveira Martins & Marucia Chacur

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2227, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508–000, Brazil

    Alex de Freitas Rodrigues & João Gualberto C. Luz

Authors
  1. Alex de Freitas Rodrigues
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  2. Daniel de Oliveira Martins
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  3. Marucia Chacur
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  4. João Gualberto C. Luz
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Correspondence to João Gualberto C. Luz.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The study was approved by the local committees on ethics on the use of animals (processes 6/2015 FO and 37/2015 ICB).

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de Freitas Rodrigues, A., de Oliveira Martins, D., Chacur, M. et al. The effectiveness of photobiomodulation in the management of temporomandibular pain sensitivity in rats: behavioral and neurochemical effects. Lasers Med Sci 35, 447–453 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-019-02842-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-019-02842-0

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