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Psychological stressors are generally associated with masseter muscle dysfunction and disorders in emotional response. In addition, oxidative states and HSP70 expression, which are involved in the physical and pathological changes of the masseter muscle, could be altered in the stressed tissues and organs. However, the link between psychological stress and the redox homeostasis or the expression of HSP70 in masseter muscles in rats has not been examined. Therefore, we used a communication box paradigm to induce psychological stress in rats. The successful establishment of the animal model was evidenced by an increase in plasma corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Meanwhile, the stressed rats showed a decrease in the number of entries on open arms, percentage of time spent in open arms, and distance moved in the elevated plus-maze test. The stressed rats also displayed a decrease in the time spent in the center zone, active velocity, and the distance moved in the open-field test. These results demonstrate affective-like behavioral changes in the stressed rats. Moreover, compared with the control rats, a decrease in SOD, GSH-Px and catalase activities and an increase in MDA content were observed in the masseter muscles in stressed rats after 3 weeks and 5 weeks, and the HSP70 expression was elevated in muscles in the rats exposed to stress for 5 weeks. These results indicate that psychological stress induces oxidative damage and up-regulates the expression of HSP70 in masseter muscles in rats, which are associated with behavior resembling anxiety., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and objective: Psychological stress causes structural and metabolic dysfunction of masseter muscles. The anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative polyphenol curcumin plays a local antioxidant role in rat masseter muscles under psychological stress by an as‐yet‐unknown mechanism. The present study aimed to assess curcumin anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative effects on masseter muscle and its possible molecular mechanisms. Methods: We constructed a rat model of chronic unpredictable moderate stress (CUMS). Psychological stress was assessed by determining the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in serum. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays measured inflammatory cytokines and markers of oxidative stress in masseter muscles. Levels of high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) were determined using quantitative PCR analyses and immunofluorescent staining. Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) activation were examined using western blotting. Results: The CUMS group showed increased serum cortisol and ACTH levels. Pathological changes in the ultrastructure, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in the masseter muscles were also observed. Curcumin treatment (50, 100 mg/kg) ameliorated these changes significantly by varying degrees. Mechanistically, increased levels of phosphorylated NF‐κB, toll‐like receptor 4 and HMGB1 were observed, which were also ameliorated by curcumin treatment. Conclusion: Curcumin can reduce local pathological changes, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in masseter muscles. Psychological stress activates HMGB1 expression and increases the expression of downstream TLR4 and p‐NF‐κB, which could be reduced by curcumin. Thus, curcumin might exert anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects in masseter muscles via the HMGB1/TLR4/NF‐κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the correlation between psychological stress and masseter muscle (MM) alterations, and explore the therapeutic agents for restoring the impaired masticatory muscle. Design: We established a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) animal model and observed the changes of ultrastructure, redox homeostasis and energy metabolism in MM in rats with and without curcumin treatment. Results: The depressive-like behavior in stressed rats was confirmed by the evidences of altered behaviors in sucrose preference test and open field test; while these phenomena were eased by curcumin. Except for the pathological changes in ultrastructure, decreased SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, Na+-K+ATPase, and Ca2+-Mg2+ATPase activities as well as increased MDA and LD content and LDH activity were also observed in MM in stressed rats. However, curcumin was capable of reversing CUMS-induced MM disorder by improving the activities of the examined anti-oxidant enzymes and energy metabolism enzymes. Additionally, the increased MDA content, LD content, and LDH activity in stressed rats were reduced by curcumin. Conclusion: All the findings indicate the adverse effects of CUMS on MM function in rats, and raise the possibility of developing curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent for psychological stress-induced masseter dysfunction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]