Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human masseter muscle

Masseter muscle metabolism is poorly understood. 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) provides an opportunity for non-invasive study of muscle metabolism during rest, exercise, and recovery. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in high-energy phosphates and pH in human masseter muscle associated with exertional pain. Phosphates and pH were measured with 31P Magnetic Resonance at 2.0 Tesla. The bite force was simultaneously measured with a force transducer. Continuous biting at maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF) and two intermittent biting exercises with different duty cycles were performed to pain intolerance. The light intermittent exercise did not produce pain. Brief MVBF requested at the beginning, during, and end of each exercise showed no decay. Qualitatively, changes in phosphates were similar to those reported from comparable limb muscle exercises: increased inorganic phosphate (Pi), decreased phosphocreatine (PCr), and no changes in ATP level. Quantitatively, however, the Pi/PCr ratio did not reach the levels reported in limb muscles during similar exercises. Also, the pH changed very little. Thus, the lack of fatigue was no surprise, since the level of changes in Pi/PCr and pH, reported to be associated with fatigue in limb muscles, was far less in the masseter. Pain development toward the end of the heavy exercises prevented further depletion of metabolites. Thus, the lack of fatigue generally postulated for the masseter muscle may not be due to resistance to fatigue of these fibers, but rather to the presence of pain preventing the fatigue. However, no specific metabolic changes associated with exertional pain were found.