Role of sex hormones in the antinociceptive effect induced by blockade of beta adrenoceptors in the rat temporomandibular joint.

• Grant number: 10/01645-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2010
• End date: December 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - General Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Herrera Tambeli
• Grantee: Letícia Wada Okoti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are pain conditions that affect the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles. These conditions present higher prevalent, severity and duration in the female gender and are associated with inflammation. Data recently obtained in our laboratory have shown that females are more sensitive to the antinociceptive effects of ²-adrenergic antagonists 1 and 2 than males. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of gonadal hormones on the antinociceptive effect induced by ²-adrenergic antagonists 1 and 2.This work will be developed through co-administration of selective antagonists for receptor ²1 (atenolol) or ²2 (ICI 118 551) with formalin in the temporomandibular joint of gonadectomizado males and females with or without gonadal hormone replacement.We believe that the proposed study is of great importance, since the understanding of the mechanisms by which sex hormones modulate the analgesic effect of drugs may contribute to the treatment of pain associated with temporomandibular disorders taking into account not only gender, but patient´s hormonal status.