The effect of glutamate-evoked masseter muscle pain on the human jaw-stretch reflex differs in men and women
Cairns, B.E.; Wang, K.; Hu, J.W.; Sessle, B.J.; Arendt-Nielsen, L.; Svensson, P.
Journal of Orofacial Pain 17(4): 317-325
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1064-6655 PMID: 14737876 Document Number: 553682
To compare jaw-stretch reflex responses in male and female subjects and to determine whether injection of glutamate into the masseter muscle facilitates these responses in both sexes. Jaw-stretch reflex responses were evoked with a muscle stretcher, and pain intensity was scored by 11 men and 13 women before and after the injection of glutamate (1.0 mol/L, 0.2 ml) into the masseter muscle. The subjects rated glutamate-evoked pain intensity on a visual analog scale. Baseline jaw-stretch reflex responses were larger and glutamate injections into the masseter muscle were significantly more painful in women than in men, however, glutamate significantly facilitated jaw-stretch reflex responses in men but not in women. These results suggest that there is a significant sex-related difference in human jaw-stretch reflex responses and their modulation by painful stimuli. Since one possible function of facilitated jaw-stretch reflex responses during jaw muscle pain may be to reduce jaw mobility and thus protect against further exacerbation of an existing injury, the finding of a sex-related difference in modulation of jaw-stretch reflex responses may prove to be important in clarifying why the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders is greater in women than in men.