Comparison of brain activation via tooth stimulation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensation of each tooth type at the cortical level. The tactical sensation from teeth plays an important role in controlling the masticatory system. However, the role of each tooth type has not been determined. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to detect changes in cerebral blood flow in the somatosensory cortex of 12 healthy volunteers. Painless vibrotactile stimuli were applied to 8 teeth (left maxillary and mandibular incisors, canines, 1(st) premolars, or 1(st) molars). The somatosensory cortex was activated during stimulation of all teeth. A comparison of cortical activation revealed significantly greater activation during stimulation of the maxillary and mandibular first molars. However, no significant differences were seen between any other teeth. These results indicate that the first molar is the most sensitive tooth type at the cortical level, and provide basic data on the relationship between input from individual tooth type and brain activation. These data could be useful for understanding the neural mechanisms of individual tooth types.

The molecular mechanism underlying pentylenetetrazole-induced bursting activity in Euhadra neurons: involvement of protein phosphorylation.

1. The involvement of protein phosphorylation in the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced bursting activity (BA) was evaluated in identified neurons of the snail. Euhadra peliomphala by examining the effect of various protein kinases and their inhibitors on the membrane properties induced by PTZ. 2. In neurons which normally exhibited spontaneous regular firing, PTZ elicited BA, the negative slope resistance (NSR) in the steady-state current (I)-voltage (V) relationship and a reduction of the delayed potassium current (IKD) in a dose-dependent manner. These were inhibited by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitors, protein kinase inhibitor isolated from rabbit muscle and N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide. 3. Intracellular injection of catalytic subunit (CS) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase enhanced PTZ-induced NSR and reduction of IKD, as well as a conversion of the BA to a long-lasting depolarization of the membrane, whereas a saturating dose of the CS occluded PTZ action on the NSR and IKD. 4. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), when intracellularly injected during the depolarizing phase of PTZ-induced bursting cycle, changed to a prolonged hyperpolarization of the membrane. This kinase also restored the PTZ-suppressed IKD nearly to the pre-PTZ level. However, when intracellular injection of CaMKII and application of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, a calmodulin inhibitor, to the inside and outside of the neuron were simultaneously carried out, neither post-burst hyperpolarization nor restoration of the IKD was observed. 5. Intracellular injection of calmodulin, together with calcium chloride, had little effect on both the BA and reduction of IKD induced by PTZ. 6. Simultaneous application of 40 microM 1-(5-isoquinolinsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, which selectively suppressed the phosphatidylserine-dependent protein phosphorylation in extracts from Euhadra ganglia, to both the inside and outside of the neuron, did not produce any significant change in the membrane properties induced by PTX. Intracellular injection of protein kinase C also brought about no effect. 7. These findings suggest that PTZ stimulates cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation which, in turn, is involved in the development of NSR and reduction of IKD, leading to the depolarization of the membrane. In addition, we propose that the Ca2+ ions, increased during the depolarizing phase of the BA cycle, form a Ca2+/calmodulin complex and subsequent protein phosphorylation, coupled with the opening of potassium channels, leading to the membrane hyperpolarization.