Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
Exp Brain Res. 2012 Oct;222(1-2):113-23. doi: 10.1007/s00221-012-3200-y. Epub 2012 Aug 2.
The neurophysiological properties of neurons sensitive to TMJ movement (TMJ neurons) in the trigeminal sensory complex (Vcomp) during passive movement of the isolated condyle were examined in 46 rabbits. Discharges of TMJ neurons from the rostral part of the Vcomp were recorded with a microelectrode when the isolated condyle was moved manually and with a computer-regulated mechanostimulator. A total of 443 neurons responding to mechanical stimulation of the face and oral cavity were recorded from the brainstem. Twenty-one TMJ neurons were detected rostrocaudally from the dorsal part of the trigeminal principal sensory nucleus (NVsnpr), subnucleus oralis of the trigeminal spinal nucleus, and reticular formation surrounding the trigeminal motor nucleus. Most of the TMJ neurons were located in the dorso-rostral part of the NVsnpr. Of the TMJ units recorded, 90 % were slowly adapting and 26 % had an accompanying resting discharge. The majority (86 %) of the TMJ units responded to the movement of the isolated condyle in the anterior and/or ventral directions, and half were sensitive to the condyle movement in a single direction. The discharge frequencies of TMJ units increased as the condyle displacement and constant velocity (5 mm/s) increased within a 5-mm anterior displacement of the isolated condyle. Based on these results, we conclude that sensory information is processed by TMJ neurons encoding at least joint position and displacement in the physiological range of mandibular displacement.
我们在 46 只兔子中研究了在孤立髁突被动运动期间三叉神经感觉复合体（Vcomp）中对 TMJ 运动敏感的神经元（TMJ 神经元）的神经生理特性。当手动移动孤立的髁突时，用微电极记录来自 Vcomp 前颅部分的 TMJ 神经元放电，并用计算机调节的机械刺激器记录。总共从脑干记录了 443 个对脸部和口腔机械刺激有反应的神经元。从三叉神经主感觉核（NVsnpr）的背侧部分、三叉神经脊髓核的口亚核和围绕三叉神经运动核的网状结构检测到 21 个 TMJ 神经元。大多数 TMJ 神经元位于 NVsnpr 的背侧前颅部分。在所记录的 TMJ 单元中，90%为缓慢适应型，26%具有伴随的静息放电。大多数（86%）TMJ 单元对孤立髁突的前向和/或下向运动有反应，其中一半对单一方向的髁突运动敏感。TMJ 单元的放电频率随着髁突位移和恒定速度（5mm/s）的增加而增加，在孤立髁突的 5mm 前位移内。基于这些结果，我们得出结论，感觉信息由 TMJ 神经元处理，这些神经元至少对下颌位移的生理范围内的关节位置和位移进行编码。
