[Effect of long-term resistance exercise on masseter muscle mechanical hyperalgesia in rats]

To investigate the effect of long-term resistance exercise of hindlimb on mechanical hyperalgesia of bilateral masseter muscle in rats with or without occlusal interference.

Six-teen male Sprague-Dawley rats (220-250 g) were randomly divided into four groups: the naive control group, naive exercise group, occlusal interference control group, and occlusal interference exercise group. The rats in occlusal interference groups (occlusal interference control group and occlusal interference exercise group) obtained occlusal interference with 0.4 mm-thick crowns bonded to the right maxillary first molars. The rats in exercise groups (naive exercise group and occlusal interference exercise group) performed squat-type resistance exercises for 30 minutes, once a day, 5 days/week, lasting for 14 weeks. Resistance exercise was recorded every day. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds of bilateral masseter muscle were tested per week by use of modified electronic von-frey anesthesiometer. The rats were weighed per week. After the 14-week exercise, the muscle strength of the hindlimb was tested with a grip strength meter. Muscle (gastrocnemius and soleus) weight of bilateral hindlimb and length of bilateral fibula of the rats were obtained. The muscle-mass/body-mass ratios and muscle-mass/fibula-length ratios were calculated.

Between the naive control group and naive exercise group, there was no significant difference in the mechanical withdrawal thresholds of bilateral masseter muscle for the 0-4 weeks (P>0.05). During the 5-14 weeks, the mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the rats in the naive exercise group were higher than those in the naive control group (P<0.05). Between the occlusal interference control group and occlusal interference exercise group, there was no significant difference in the mechanical withdrawal thresholds of bilateral masseter muscle for the 0-6 weeks (P>0.05). During the 7-14 weeks, the mechanical withdrawal thresholds of rats in the naive exercise group were higher than those in the occlusal interference control group (P<0.05). After the 14week exercise, the body mass of the rats in nonexercise group (the naive control group and occlusal interference control group) were larger than those in exercise group [(462±6) g vs. (418±14) g, P<0.05]. And the muscle strength of hindlimb of the rats in exercise group were bigger than those in non-exercise group [(6.75±0.13) N vs. (5.41±0.15) N, P<0.01].

long-term resistance exercise can increase mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the bilateral masseter muscle in rats with or without masseter muscle mechanical hyperalgesia.