Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Temporomandibular Joint Pain Measurement by Bite Force and Von Frey Filament Assays in Mice
Published on: September 13, 2024
Botulinum toxin type A reduces inflammatory hypernociception induced by arthritis in the temporomadibular joint of
Victor Ricardo Manuel Muñoz Lora1, Juliana Trindade Clemente-Napimoga2, Henrique Ballassini Abdalla3
1Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Av Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, São Paulo, zip code 13414-903, Brazil.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive effects of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) on persistent inflammatory hypernociception induced by arthritis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of rats.
Material And Methods:
Wistar rats were induced to persistent inflammatory hypernociception in the left TMJ. Then, animals were treated with intra-TMJ injections of BoNT-A, using doses of 3.5, 7 and 14 U/kg. Saline was used as control group. Behavioral tests were applied to evaluated the effect of BoNT-A in the inflammatory hypernociception. After that, animals were euthanized and samples from peri-articular tissues and trigeminal ganglia were obtained for further analyses.
Results:
BoNT-A reduced the persistent inflammatory hypernociception induced by arthritis in the TMJ of rats. BoNT-A significantly reduced the peripheral release of the neurotransmitters Substance P and Calcitonin gene related peptide; and the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Otherwise, BoNT-A had no effect in the peripheral release of glutamate and the cytokine TNF-α.
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate that intra-articular injection of BoNT-A reduces the albumin-induced arthritis persistent hypernociception in TMJ of rats by peripheral inhibition of neuropeptides release.

