Fiber-type Composition of the Human Jaw Muscles—(Part 1) Origin and Functional Significance of Fiber-type Diversity

A multimodal approach to automated hierarchical assessment of bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Introduction

As a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), bulbar involvement leads to progressive declines of speech and swallowing functions, significantly impacting social, emotional, and physical health, and quality of life. Standard clinical tools for bulbar assessment focus primarily on clinical symptoms and functional outcomes. However, ALS is known to have a long, clinically silent prodromal stage characterized by complex subclinical changes at various levels of the bulbar motor system. These changes accumulate over time and eventually culminate in clinical symptoms and functional declines. Detection of these subclinical changes is critical, both for mechanistic understanding of bulbar neuromuscular pathology and for optimal clinical management of bulbar dysfunction in ALS. To this end, we developed a novel multimodal measurement tool based on two clinically readily available, noninvasive instruments-facial surface electromyography (sEMG) and acoustic techniques-to hierarchically assess seven constructs of bulbar/speech motor control at the neuromuscular and acoustic levels. These constructs, including prosody, pause, functional connectivity, amplitude, rhythm, complexity, and regularity, are both mechanically and clinically relevant to bulbar involvement.

Methods

Using a custom-developed, fully automated data analytic algorithm, a variety of features were extracted from the sEMG and acoustic recordings of a speech task performed by 13 individuals with ALS and 10 neurologically healthy controls. These features were then factorized into 10 composite outcome measures using confirmatory factor analysis. Statistical and machine learning techniques were applied to these composite outcome measures to evaluate their reliability (internal consistency), validity (concurrent and construct), and efficacy for early detection and progress monitoring of bulbar involvement in ALS.

Results

The composite outcome measures were demonstrated to (1) be internally consistent and structurally valid in measuring the targeted constructs; (2) hold concurrent validity with the existing clinical and functional criteria for bulbar assessment; and (3) outperform the outcome measures obtained from each constituent modality in differentiating individuals with ALS from healthy controls. Moreover, the composite outcome measures combined demonstrated high efficacy for detecting subclinical changes in the targeted constructs, both during the prodromal stage and during the transition from prodromal to symptomatic stages.

Discussion

The findings provided compelling initial evidence for the utility of the multimodal measurement tool for improving early detection and progress monitoring of bulbar involvement in ALS, which have important implications in facilitating timely access to and delivery of optimal clinical care of bulbar dysfunction.

Desmin gene expression is not ubiquitous in all upper airway myofibers and the pattern differs between healthy and sleep apnea subjects

BACKGROUND

Desmin is a major cytoskeletal protein considered ubiquitous in mature muscle fibers. However, we earlier reported that a subgroup of muscle fibers in the soft palate of healthy subjects and obstructive sleep apnea patients (OSA) lacked immunoexpression for desmin. This raised the question of whether these fibers also lack messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for desmin and can be considered a novel fiber phenotype. Moreover, some fibers in the OSA patients had an abnormal distribution and aggregates of desmin. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate if these desmin protein abnormalities are also reflected in the expression of desmin mRNA in an upper airway muscle of healthy subjects and OSA patients.

METHODS

Muscle biopsies from the musculus uvulae in the soft palate were obtained from ten healthy male subjects and six male patients with OSA. Overnight sleep apnea registrations were done for all participants. Immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) techniques were used to evaluate the presence of desmin protein and its mRNA.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrated that a group of muscle fibers lacked expression for desmin mRNA and desmin protein in healthy individuals and OSA patients (12.0 ± 5.6% vs. 23.1 ± 10.8%, p = 0.03). A subpopulation of these fibers displayed a weak subsarcolemmal rim of desmin accompanied by a few scattered mRNA dots in the cytoplasm. The muscles of OSA patients also differed from healthy subjects by exhibiting muscle fibers with reorganized or accumulated aggregates of desmin protein (14.5 ± 6.5%). In these abnormal fibers, the density of mRNA was generally low or concentrated in specific regions. The overall quantification of desmin mRNA by RT-qPCR was significantly upregulated in OSA patients compared to healthy subjects (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows evidence that muscle fibers in the human soft palate lack both mRNA and protein for desmin. This indicates a novel cytoskeletal structure and challenges the ubiquity of desmin in muscle fibers. Moreover, the observation of reorganized or accumulated aggregates of desmin mRNA and desmin protein in OSA patients suggests a disturbance in the transcription and translation process in the fibers of the patients.

A Fine-Grained Temporal Analysis of Multimodal Oral Diadochokinetic Performance to Assess Speech Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

PURPOSE

This study used a semiautomated fine-grained temporal analysis to extract features of temporal oral diadochokinetic (DDK) performance across multiple modalities and tasks, from neurologically healthy and impaired individuals secondary to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aims were to (a) delineate temporal oral DDK deficits relating to the neuromotor pathology of ALS and (b) identify the optimal task-feature combinations to detect speech impairment in ALS.

METHOD

Mandibular myoelectric, kinematic, and acoustic data were acquired from 13 individuals with ALS and 10 healthy controls producing three alternating motion rate tasks and one sequential motion rate task. Twenty-seven features were extracted from the multimodal data, characterizing three temporal constructs: duration/rate, variability, and coordination. The disease impacts on these features were assessed across tasks, and the task eliciting the greatest disease-related change was identified for each feature. Such "optimal" task-feature combinations were fed into logistic regression to differentiate individuals with ALS from healthy controls.

RESULTS

Temporal deficits in ALS were characterized by (a) increased duration and variability and reduced coordination of jaw muscle activities, (b) increased duration and variability and altered temporal symmetry of jaw velocity profile, (c) increased muscle-burst-to-peak-velocity duration, and (d) increased motion-to-voice onset duration. These temporal features were differentially affected across tasks. The optimal task-feature combinations, which were further clustered into three composite factors reflecting temporal variability, coarser-grained duration, and finer-grained duration, differentiated ALS from controls with an F1 score of 0.86 (precision = 1.00, recall = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Temporal oral DDK deficits are likely attributed to a hierarchy of interrelated neurophysiological and biomechanical factors associated with the neuromotor pathology of ALS. These deficits, as assessed crossmodally, provide previously unavailable insights into the multifaceted timing impairment of oromotor performance in ALS. The optimal task-feature combinations targeting these deficits show promise as quantitative markers for (early) detection of speech impairment in ALS.

Behavioral correlates of fascicular organization: The confluence of muscle architectural anatomy and function

Muscle is a complex tissue that has been studied on numerous hierarchical levels: from gross descriptions of muscle organization to cellular analyses of fiber profiles. In the middle of this space between organismal and cellular biology lies muscle architecture, the level at which functional correlations between a muscle's internal fiber organization and contractile abilities are explored. In this review, we summarize this relationship, detail recent advances in our understanding of this form-function paradigm, and highlight the role played by The Anatomical Record in advancing our understanding of functional morphology within muscle over the past two decades. In so doing, we honor the legacy of Editor-in-Chief Kurt Albertine, whose stewardship of the journal from 2006 through 2020 oversaw the flourishing of myological research, including numerous special issues dedicated to exploring the behavioral correlates of myology across diverse taxa. This legacy has seen the The Anatomical Record establish itself as a preeminent source of myological research, and a true leader within the field of comparative anatomy and functional morphology.

ACTN3 genotype influences masseter muscle characteristics and self-reported bruxism

OBJECTIVES

Main aim of the study was to explore the association between genetic polymorphisms in ACTN3 and bruxism. Secondary objectives included masseter muscle phenotypes assessment between bruxers and non-bruxers and according to genetic polymorphisms in ACTN3.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-four patients undergoing orthognathic surgery for correction of their malocclusion were enrolled. Self-reported bruxism and temporomandibular disorders status were preoperatively recorded. Saliva samples were used for ACTN3 genotyping. Masseter muscle samples were collected bilaterally at the time of orthognathic surgery to explore the muscle fiber characteristics.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in genotypes for rs1815739 (R577X nonsense) (p = 0.001), rs1671064 (Q523R missense) (p = 0.005), and rs678397 (intronic variant) (p = 0.001) between bruxers and non-bruxers. Patients with self-reported bruxism presented a larger mean fiber area for types IIA (p = 0.035). The mean fiber areas in individuals with the wild-type CC genotype for rs1815739 (R577X) were significantly larger for type IIA fibers (1394.33 μm² [572.77 μm² ]) than in those with the TC and TT genotypes (832.61 μm² [602.43 μm² ] and 526.58 μm² [432.21 μm² ] [p = 0.014]). Similar results for Q523R missense and intronic variants.

CONCLUSIONS

ACTN3 genotypes influence self-reported bruxism in patients with dentofacial deformity through specific masseter muscle fiber characteristics.

Relationship between rate-elicited changes in muscular-kinematic control strategies and acoustic performance in individuals with ALS-A multimodal investigation

INTRODUCTION

As a key control variable, duration has been long suspected to mediate the organization of speech motor control strategies, which has management implications for neuromotor speech disorders. This study aimed to experimentally delineate the role of duration in organizing speech motor control in neurologically healthy and impaired speakers using a voluntary speaking rate manipulation paradigm.

METHODS

Thirteen individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 10 healthy controls performed a sentence reading task three times, first at their habitual rate, then at a slower rate. A multimodal approach combining surface electromyography, kinematic, and acoustic technologies was used to record jaw muscle activities, jaw kinematics, and speech acoustics. Six muscular-kinematic features were extracted and factor-analyzed to characterize the organization of the mandibular control hierarchy. Five acoustic features were extracted, measuring the spectrotemporal properties of the diphthong /ɑɪ/ and the plosives /t/ and /k/.

RESULTS

The muscular-kinematic features converged into two interpretable latent factors, reflecting the level and cohesiveness/flexibility of mandibular control, respectively. Voluntary rate reduction led to a trend toward (1) finer, less cohesive, and more flexible mandibular control, and (2) increased range and decreased transition slope of the diphthong formants, across neurologically healthy and impaired groups. Differential correlations were found between the rate-elicited changes in mandibular control and acoustic performance for neurologically healthy and impaired speakers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provided empirical evidence for the long-suspected but previously unsubstantiated role of duration in (re)organizing speech motor control strategies. The rate-elicited reorganization of muscular-kinematic control contributed to the acoustic performance of healthy speakers, in ways consistent with theoretical predictions. Such contributions were less consistent in impaired speakers, implying the complex nature of speaking rate reduction in ALS, possibly reflecting an interplay of disease-related constraints and volitional duration control. This information may help to stratify and identify candidates for the rate manipulation therapy.

The influence of jaw-muscle fibre-type phenotypes on estimating maximum muscle and bite forces in primates

Numerous anthropological studies have been aimed at estimating jaw-adductor muscle forces, which, in turn, are used to estimate bite force. While primate jaw adductors show considerable intra- and intermuscular heterogeneity in fibre types, studies generally model jaw-muscle forces by treating the jaw adductors as either homogeneously slow or homogeneously fast muscles. Here, we provide a novel extension of such studies by integrating fibre architecture, fibre types and fibre-specific tensions to estimate maximum muscle forces in the masseter and temporalis of five anthropoid primates: Sapajus apella (N = 3), Cercocebus atys (N = 4), Macaca fascicularis (N = 3), Gorilla gorilla (N = 1) and Pan troglodytes (N = 2). We calculated maximum muscle forces by proportionally adjusting muscle physiological cross-sectional areas by their fibre types and associated specific tensions. Our results show that the jaw adductors of our sample ubiquitously express MHC α-cardiac, which has low specific tension, and hybrid fibres. We find that treating the jaw adductors as either homogeneously slow or fast muscles potentially overestimates average maximum muscle forces by as much as approximately 44%. Including fibre types and their specific tensions is thus likely to improve jaw-muscle and bite force estimates in primates.

Does Systemic Arterial Hypertension Change the Function of the Stomatognathic System?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stomatognathic system of individuals with controlled systemic hypertension through comparison with a disease-free control group. Seventy individuals (44 female and 26 male) were divided into two groups: a controlled systemic hypertension (n=35) and a disease-free control (n=35). The individuals were evaluated on the basis of masticatory cycle efficiency of the value of the ensemble-averaged integrated linear envelope to the electromyographic signal of the masseter and temporalis muscles in the habitual (peanuts and raisins) and non-habitual chewing (Parafilm M); molar bite force (right and left) and ultrasound images from the bilateral masseter and temporal muscles at rest and maximum voluntary contraction. The data obtained were tabulated and submitted to statistical analysis (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between groups in the habitual (peanuts and raisins) and non-habitual (Parafilm M) chewing with reduced muscle activity to controlled systemic hypertension group. Muscle thickness occurred significant difference between groups at rest and maximum voluntary contraction of the temporalis muscles. There was no significant difference between groups in maximum molar bite force. The present study findings indicate that the controlled systemic hypertension promotes functional changes of the masticatory system, especially with respect to its masticatory efficiency and muscle thickness.

Functional and ecological correlates of the primate jaw abductors

While the adductor musculature of the primate jaw has been extensively analyzed within the context of dietary and social ecology, little is known about the corresponding muscles of jaw abduction. Nonetheless, these muscles significantly contribute to a species' maximum gape potential, and thus might constrain dietary niche diversity and impact social display behaviors. In this study, we quantify the architectural properties of the digastric (a jaw abductor) and lateral pterygoid (a jaw abductor and anterior translator) across a broad sample of male and female anthropoid primates. We test the hypothesis that the abductor musculature reflects specialization to dietary and behavioral ecology. Our sample comprises 14 catarrhine and 13 platyrrhine species spanning a wide range of dietary and social categories. All specimens were sharp dissected and muscles subsequently chemically digested using a standardized protocol. Our findings demonstrate that relative fascicle lengths within the lateral pterygoid (but not the digastric) are significantly greater within species that habitually consume larger food items. Meanwhile, canine length is more strongly associated with fascicle lengths in the digastric than in the lateral pterygoid, particularly within males. Neither dietary mechanical resistance nor the intensity of social competition relates to the size or architectural properties of the jaw abductors. These findings suggest that dietary-and to a lesser extent, socioecological-aspects of a primate's life history may be reflected in the architecture of these muscles, albeit to varying degrees. This underlines the importance of considering the complete masticatory apparatus when interpreting the evolution of the primate jaw.

A Novel Hierarchical Framework for Measuring the Complexity and Irregularity of Multimodal Speech Signals and Its Application in the Assessment of Speech Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Purpose The purposes of this study are to develop a novel multimodal framework for measuring variability at the muscular, kinematic, and acoustic levels of the motor speech hierarchy and evaluate the utility of this framework in detecting speech impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Method The myoelectric activities of three bilateral jaw muscle pairs (masseter, anterior temporalis, and anterior belly of digastric), jaw kinematics, and speech acoustics were recorded in 13 individuals with ALS and 10 neurologically healthy controls during sentence reading. Thirteen novel measures (six muscular, three kinematic, four acoustic), which characterized two different but interrelated aspects of variability-complexity and irregularity-were derived using linear and nonlinear methods. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to identify the latent factors underlying these measures. Based on the latent factors, three supervised classifiers-support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and logistic regression (Logit)-were used to differentiate between the speech samples for patients and controls. Results Four interpretable latent factors were identified, representing the complexity of jaw kinematics, the irregularity of jaw antagonists functioning, the irregularity of jaw agonists functioning, and the irregularity of subband acoustic signals, respectively. Based on these latent factors, the speech samples for patients and controls were classified with high accuracy (> 96% for SVM and RF; 88.64% for Logit), outperforming the unimodal measures. Two factors showed significant between-groups differences, as characterized by decreased complexity of jaw kinematics and increased irregularity of jaw antagonists functioning in patients versus controls. Conclusions Decreased complexity of jaw kinematics presumably reflects impaired fine control of jaw movement, while increased irregularity of jaw antagonists functioning could be attributed to reduced synchronization of motor unit firing in ALS. The findings provide preliminary evidence for the utility of the multimodal framework as a novel quantitative assessment tool for detecting speech impairment in ALS and (potentially) in other neuromotor disorders.

A potential upper motor neuron measure of bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using jaw muscle coherence

OBJECTIVE

To identify a novel, quantitative bulbar measure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on jaw muscle coherence. Methods: The myoelectric activities of masseter, anterior temporalis, and anterior belly of digastric were recorded bilaterally during a speech task in 12 individuals with ALS and 10 neurologically healthy controls, using surface electromyography. Coherence and directed coherence were calculated for all muscle pairs. The muscle pairs showing significant coherence and directed coherence in the beta-band (15-35 Hz) were identified and their mean beta-band coherence were (1) correlated with the kinematic (i.e. jaw acceleration time) and functional speech (i.e. speaking rate) measures that have been previously identified to be affected by bulbar ALS, across all participants, and (2) evaluated in terms of their efficacy in differentiating individuals with ALS from healthy controls. Results: Beta-band coherence was in general reduced in ALS relative to healthy controls, with the antagonistic and homologous muscle pairs being more affected than the agonistic pairs. Among all muscle pairs, the coherence between masseter and digastric (1) showed the strongest correlations with jaw acceleration time and speaking rate, and (2) differentiated individuals with ALS from healthy controls with the highest sensitivity (i.e. 0.92) and specificity (i.e. 0.90). Conclusions: Reduced beta-band coherence between masseter and digastric in ALS reflects weakened neural linkage between these muscles resulting from the disrupted cortical drive to the bulbar musculature. These findings provide preliminary evidence for jaw muscle coherence as a novel, quantitative measure of corticobulbar involvement, designed to improve bulbar assessment in ALS.

Fiber-type phenotype of the jaw-closing muscles in Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes, and Pan paniscus: A test of the Frequent Recruitment Hypothesis

Skeletal muscle fiber types are important determinants of the contractile properties of muscle fibers, such as fatigue resistance and shortening velocity. Yet little is known about how jaw-adductor fiber types correlate with feeding behavior in primates. Compared with chimpanzees and bonobos, gorillas spend a greater percentage of their daily time feeding and shift to herbaceous vegetation when fruits are scarce. We thus used the African apes to test the hypothesis that chewing with unusually high frequency is correlated with the expression in the jaw adductors of a high proportion of type 1 (slow, fatigue-resistant) fibers at the expense of other fiber types (the Frequent Recruitment Hypothesis). We used immunohistochemistry to determine the presence and distribution of the four major myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in the anterior superficial masseter (ASM), superficial anterior temporalis, and deep anterior temporalis of four Gorilla gorilla, two Pan paniscus, and four Pan troglodytes. Serial sections were stained against slow (MHC-1/-α-cardiac) and fast (MHC-2/-M) fibers. Fibers were counted and scored for staining intensity, and fiber cross-sectional areas (CSAs) were measured and used to estimate percentage of CSA of each MHC isoform. Hybrid fibers accounted for nearly 100% of fiber types in the masseter and temporalis of all three species, resulting in three main hybrid phenotypes. As predicted, the gorilla ASM and deep anterior temporalis comprised a greater percentage of CSA of the slower, fatigue-resistant hybrid fiber type, significantly so for the ASM (p = 0.015). Finally, the results suggest that fiber phenotype of the chewing muscles contributes to behavioral flexibility in ways that would go undetected in paleontological studies relying solely on morphology of the bony masticatory apparatus.

Masticatory muscle function affects the pathological conditions of dentofacial deformities

The causes of dentofacial deformities include various known syndromes, genetics, environmental and neuromuscular factors, trauma, and tumors. Above all, the functional effects of muscles are important, and deformation of the mandible is often associated with a mechanical imbalance of the masticatory muscles. With the vertical position of the face, weakness of the sling of the masseter muscle and medial pterygoid muscle causes dilatation of the mandibular angle. In patients with a deep bite, excessive function of the masticatory muscles is reported. Myosin heavy chain　(MyHC) properties also affect jawbone morphology. In short-face patients, the proportion of type II fibers, which are fast muscles, is high. The proportions of muscle fiber types are genetically determined but can be altered by postnatal environmental factors. Orthognathic surgery may results in the transition of MyHC to type II (fast) fibers, but excessive stretching enhances the release of inflammatory mediators and causes a shift toward a greater proportion of slow muscle fibers. This feature can be related to postoperative relapse. Bones and muscles are in close crosstalk, and it may be possible to use biochemical approaches as well as biomechanical considerations for the treatment of jaw deformities.

Quantitative and simultaneous measurement of oxygen consumption rates in rat brain and skeletal muscle using 17 O MRS imaging at 16.4T

PURPOSE

Oxygen-17 (¹⁷ O) MRS imaging, successfully used in the brain, is extended by imaging the oxygen metabolic rate in the resting skeletal muscle and used to determine the total whole-body oxygen metabolic rate in the rat.

METHODS

During and after inhalations of ¹⁷ O₂ gas, dynamic ¹⁷ O MRSI was performed in rats (n = 8) ventilated with N₂ O or N₂ at 16.4 T. Time courses of the H₂ ¹⁷ O concentration from regions of interest located in brain and muscle tissue were examined and used to fit an animal-adapted 3-phase metabolic model of oxygen consumption. CBF was determined with an independent washout method. Finally, body oxygen metabolic rate was calculated using a global steady-state approach.

RESULTS

Cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption was 1.97 ± 0.19 μmol/g/min on average. The resting metabolic rate of oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle was 0.32 ± 0.12 μmol/g/min and >6 times lower than cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption. Global oxygen consumed by the body was 24.2 ± 3.6 mL O₂ /kg body weight/min. CBF was estimated to be 0.28 ± 0.02 mL/g/min and 0.34 ± 0.06 mL/g/min for the N₂ and N₂ O ventilation condition, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We have evaluated the feasibility of ¹⁷ O MRSI for imaging and quantifying the oxygen consumption rate in low metabolizing organs such as the skeletal muscle at rest. Additionally, we have shown that CBF is slightly increased in the case of ventilation with N₂ O. We expect this study to be beneficial to the application of ¹⁷ O MRSI to a wider range of organs, although further validation is advised.

Motor control strategies during unpredictable force control tasks in humans

BACKGROUND

There are fundamental similarities and differences between the jaw and hand motor systems. However, it is unclear how the two systems respond to unpredictable task demands.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and compare the force control of the jaw motor system (OMS) and the hand motor system (HMS) during unpredictable load changes.

METHODS

Seventeen healthy adults (24.0 ± 4.3 years) performed two standardised force control tasks (OMS and HMS). During the OMS, the participants asked to bite and pull a force transducer with the front teeth. While during HMS they pinched and pulled the same force transducer with their index and thumb fingers. Series of loads were added to a string attached to the transducer in an unpredictable (sequential and non-sequential) manner. The entire force profile during the task was divided into "initial" and "latter" segments. The force control was analysed and compared between the OMS and HMS in terms of peak force during the initial segment and holding force and force variability during the latter segment.

RESULTS

The peak force, holding force and force variability were higher for the OMS than the HMS (P < .001). However, there were no differences in the peak force, holding force or force variability between the sequential and non-sequential load changes (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that unpredictable load changes did not affect the force control during the motor control task. This study suggests that both the motor systems are optimised in performing simple motor control tasks and are rather resilient to motor unpredictability.

Muscle-Bone Crosstalk in the Masticatory System: From Biomechanical to Molecular Interactions

The masticatory system is a complex and highly organized group of structures, including craniofacial bones (maxillae and mandible), muscles, teeth, joints, and neurovascular elements. While the musculoskeletal structures of the head and neck are known to have a different embryonic origin, morphology, biomechanical demands, and biochemical characteristics than the trunk and limbs, their particular molecular basis and cell biology have been much less explored. In the last decade, the concept of muscle-bone crosstalk has emerged, comprising both the loads generated during muscle contraction and a biochemical component through soluble molecules. Bone cells embedded in the mineralized tissue respond to the biomechanical input by releasing molecular factors that impact the homeostasis of the attaching skeletal muscle. In the same way, muscle-derived factors act as soluble signals that modulate the remodeling process of the underlying bones. This concept of muscle-bone crosstalk at a molecular level is particularly interesting in the mandible, due to its tight anatomical relationship with one of the biggest and strongest masticatory muscles, the masseter. However, despite the close physical and physiological interaction of both tissues for proper functioning, this topic has been poorly addressed. Here we present one of the most detailed reviews of the literature to date regarding the biomechanical and biochemical interaction between muscles and bones of the masticatory system, both during development and in physiological or pathological remodeling processes. Evidence related to how masticatory function shapes the craniofacial bones is discussed, and a proposal presented that the masticatory muscles and craniofacial bones serve as secretory tissues. We furthermore discuss our current findings of myokines-release from masseter muscle in physiological conditions, during functional adaptation or pathology, and their putative role as bone-modulators in the craniofacial system. Finally, we address the physiological implications of the crosstalk between muscles and bones in the masticatory system, analyzing pathologies or clinical procedures in which the alteration of one of them affects the homeostasis of the other. Unveiling the mechanisms of muscle-bone crosstalk in the masticatory system opens broad possibilities for understanding and treating temporomandibular disorders, which severely impair the quality of life, with a high cost for diagnosis and management.

Tooth extraction and subsequent dental implant placement in Sprague-Dawley rats induce differential changes in anterior digastric myofibre size and myosin heavy chain isoform expression

OBJECTIVE

to determine if tooth loss and dental implant placement in rats induce changes in the morphological and histochemical features of the Anterior Digastric muscle.

DESIGN

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats had their right maxillary molar teeth extracted. 'Extraction-1' and 'Extraction-2 groups were sacrificed, respectively, 4 or 8 weeks later, and an Implant group had an implant placement 2 weeks after the molar extraction, and rats were sacrificed 3 weeks later (n = 4/group). Naive rats (n = 3) had no treatment. Morphometric and immunohistochemical techniques quantified Anterior Digastric muscle myofibres' cross-sectional area (CSA) and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform proportions. Significant ANOVAs were followed by post-hoc tests; p < 0.05 and 0.1 were considered to reflect levels of statistical significance.

RESULTS

In naïve rats, the peripheral regions of the Anterior Digastric muscle was dominated by MyHC-IIx/b isoform and there were no MyHC-I isoforms; the central regions dominated by MyHC-IIx/b and MyHC-IIa isoforms. Compared with naive rats, tooth extraction produced, 8 (but not 4) weeks later, a decreased proportion of fast-contracting fatigue-resistant MyHC-IIa isoform (p = 0.08), and increased proportion of fast and intermediate fatigue-resistance MyHC-IIa/x/b isoform (p = 0.03). Dental implant placement following tooth extraction attenuated the extraction effects but produced a decreased proportion of fast-contracting fatiguable MyHC-llx/b isoform (p = 0.03) in the peripheral region, and increased inter-animal variability in myofibre-CSAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the crucial role that the Anterior Digastric muscle plays in many vital oral functions (e.g., chewing, swallowing), these changes may contribute to the changes in oral sensorimotor functions that occur in humans following such treatments.

Mouse incising central pattern generator: Characteristics and modulation by pain

INTRODUCTION

Vertebrate incising and chewing are controlled by a set of neurons comprising the central pattern generator (CPG) for mastication. Mandibular positioning and force generation to perform these tasks is complex and requires coordination of multiple jaw opening and closing muscle compartments located in muscles on both sides of the jaw. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of the CPG by recording mouse incising forces in the home cage environment to evaluate changes in force characteristics with incising frequency and force direction. A second purpose was to evaluate the effects of jaw closing muscle pain on CPG output parameters.

METHODS

Digitized incising forces were recorded for approximately 24 h using a 3-dimensional force transducer attached to solid food chow. Male and female CD-1 mice were evaluated during their last (fourth) baseline assessment and seven days after a second acidic saline injection into the left masseter muscle when maximum pain was experienced. Incising force resultants were calculated from the three axes data and force parameters were assessed including inter-peak intervals (IPI), peak amplitude, load time and unload time. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify incising episodes that had parameters of force that were significantly correlated (p < 0.001). These incising episodes were considered to represent the output of the CPG with a steady state of incoming sensory afferent inputs. Incising parameters were evaluated for each of the discrete incising frequencies (4.6, 5.3, 6.2, 7.6 Hz) and the predominant force directions: jaw closing (-Z), jaw retrusion (+X) and jaw protrusion (-X).

RESULTS

A significant correlation between incising frequency (IPI) and the load time was observed. A significant decrease in peak amplitude was observed with higher incising frequency while the load rate significantly increased. The force peak amplitude and load rates were found to be statistically different when the force direction was considered, with smaller peak amplitudes and smaller load rates found in the jaw closing direction. The effect of pain on incising was to reduce the peak amplitude and load rate of incising compared to the baseline condition at lower incising frequencies.

CONCLUSIONS

Like the central pattern generator for locomotion, the CPG for incising controls rhythmicity, peak amplitude and force load duration/rate. However, unlike the CPG for locomotion, the amplitude of incising force decreases as the frequency increases. During incising, load rate increases with faster rhythm and is consistent with the recruitment of larger motor units. Muscle pain reduced the excitatory drive of the CPG on motoneurons and provides further support of the Pain Adaptation Model.

Functional and molecular outcomes of the human masticatory muscles

The masticatory muscles achieve a broad range of different activities such as chewing, sucking, swallowing, and speech. In order to accomplish these duties, masticatory muscles have a unique and heterogeneous structure and fiber composition, enabling them to produce their strength and contraction speed largely dependent on their motor units and myosin proteins that can change in response to genetic and environmental factors. Human masticatory muscles express unique myosin isoforms, including a combination of thick fibers, expressing myosin light chains (MyLC) and myosin class I and II heavy chains (MyHC) -IIA, -IIX, α-cardiac, embryonic and neonatal and thin fibers, respectively. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the importance of fiber-type diversity in masticatory muscles versus supra- and infrahyoid muscles, and versus limb and trunk muscles. We also highlight new information regarding the adaptive response and specific genetic variations of muscle fibers on the functional significance of the masticatory muscles, which influences craniofacial characteristics, malocclusions, or asymmetry. These findings may offer future possibilities for the prevention of craniofacial growth disturbances.

Spectral components in electromyograms from four regions of the human masseter, in natural dentate and edentulous subjects with removable prostheses and implants

OBJECTIVE

To compare the frequency or spectral components between different regions of the superficial masseter in young natural dentate and total edentulous older adults rehabilitated with removable prostheses and fixed-implant support. A secondary objective was to compare these components between the three groups.

DESIGN

21 young natural dentate and 28 edentulous (14 with removable prostheses and 14 with fixed-implant support) were assessed. High-density surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded in four portions of the superficial masseter during submaximal isometric bites. Spectral components were obtained through a spectral analysis of the sEMG signals. An analysis of mixed models was used to compare the spectral components.

RESULTS

In all groups, the spectral components of the anterior portion were lower than in the posterior region (p < 0.05). Both edentulous groups showed lower spectral components and median frequency slope than the natural dentate group (p < 0.05). The removable prostheses group showed the greatest differences with natural dentate group.

CONCLUSIONS

There were significant differences in the spectral components recorded in the different regions of the superficial masseter. The lower spectral components and fatigability of older adults rehabilitated with prostheses could be a cause of a greater loss of type II fibers, especially in the removable prostheses group.

Unilateral nasal obstruction affects motor representation development within the face primary motor cortex in growing rats

Postnatal growth is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Nasal obstruction during growth alters the electromyographic activity of orofacial muscles. The facial primary motor area represents muscles of the tongue and jaw, which are essential in regulating orofacial motor functions, including chewing and jaw opening. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic unilateral nasal obstruction during growth on the motor representations within the face primary motor cortex (M1). Seventy-two 6-day-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (n = 36) and experimental (n = 36) groups. Rats in the experimental group underwent unilateral nasal obstruction after cauterization of the external nostril at 8 days of age. Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) mapping was performed when the rats were 5, 7, 9, and 11 wk old in control and experimental groups (n = 9 per group per time point). Repeated-measures multivariate ANOVA was used for intergroup and intragroup statistical comparisons. In the control and experimental groups, the total number of positive ICMS sites for the genioglossus and anterior digastric muscles was significantly higher at 5, 7, and 9 wk, but there was no significant difference between 9 and 11 wk of age. Moreover, the total number of positive ICMS sites was significantly smaller in the experimental group than in the control at each age. It is possible that nasal obstruction induced the initial changes in orofacial motor behavior in response to the altered respiratory pattern, which eventually contributed to face-M1 neuroplasticity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Unilateral nasal obstruction in rats during growth periods induced changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and altered development of the motor representation within the face primary cortex. Unilateral nasal obstruction occurring during growth periods may greatly affect not only respiratory function but also craniofacial function in rats. Nasal obstruction should be treated as soon as possible to avoid adverse effects on normal growth, development, and physiological functions.

Expression and identification of 10 sarcomeric MyHC isoforms in human skeletal muscles of different embryological origin. Diversity and similarity in mammalian species

In the mammalian genome, among myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms a family can be identified as sarcomeric based on their molecular structure which allows thick filament formation. In this study we aimed to assess the expression of the 10 sarcomeric isoforms in human skeletal muscles, adopting this species as a reference for comparison with all other mammalian species. To this aim, we set up the condition for quantitative Real Time PCR assay to detect and quantify MyHC mRNA expression in a wide variety of human muscles from somitic, presomitic and preotic origin. Specific patterns of expression of the following genes MYH1, MYH2, MYH3, MYH4, MYH6, MYH7, MYH8, MYH13, MYH14/7b and MYH15 were demonstrated in various muscle samples. On the same muscle samples which were analysed for mRNA expression, the corresponding MyHC proteins were studied with SDS PAGE and Western blot. The mRNA-protein comparison allowed the identification of 10 distinct proteins based on the electrophoretic migration rate. Three groups were formed based on the migration rate: fast migrating comprising beta/slow/1, alpha cardiac and fast 2B, slow migrating comprising fast 2X, fast 2A and two developmental isoforms (NEO and EMB), intermediate migrating comprising EO MyHC, slow B (product of MYH15), slow tonic (product of MYH14/7b). Of special interest was the demonstration of a protein band corresponding to 2B-MyHC in laryngeal muscles and the finding that all 10 isoforms are expressed in extraocular muscles. These latter muscles are the unique localization for extraocular, slow B (product of MYH15) and slow tonic (product of MYH14/7b).

Differential response of pig masseter to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes a and b

INTRODUCTION

Pigs respond to direct administration of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), although they are resistant to botulism. The human masseter is frequently targeted for BoNT therapy. We aimed to understand how BoNT affects chewing by injecting porcine masseters.

METHODS

One masseter of minipigs was injected with BoNT serotype A or B at doses comparable to those used in humans. Masticatory function was evaluated electromyographically. Muscle force was measured during tetany. Four weeks after injection, strain gauges affixed to the mandible assessed bone strain during chewing. Masseter mass and fiber diameter were measured after euthanasia.

RESULTS

BoNT-A had no measurable effect. In contrast, BoNT-B reduced electrical activity and muscle force, producing substantial asymmetry between injected and uninjected muscles.

CONCLUSIONS

The pig masseter is highly resistant to direct injection of BoNT-A, but it is affected by BoNT-B.

Effect of unilateral nasal obstruction on tongue protrusion forces in growing rats

Mouth breathing caused by nasal obstruction affects the normal growth and development of craniofacial structures, including changes in the orofacial muscles. Tongue muscles play an important role in patency of the pharyngeal airway, and changes in the breathing pattern may influence tongue function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of unilateral nasal obstruction during growth on contractile properties of the tongue-protruding muscles. Sixty 6-day-old male Wistar albino rats were divided randomly into control ( n = 30) and experimental ( n = 30) groups. Rats in the experimental group underwent a unilateral nasal obstruction after cauterization of the external nostril at the age of 8 days, and muscle contractile characteristics were measured at 5, 7, and 9 wk of age. The specific parameters measured were twitch force, contraction time, half-decay time, tetanic force, and fatigue index. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance was used for intergroup and intragroup statistical comparisons. Twitch contraction force and half-decay time were significantly increased in the experimental group at all ages. Tetanic forces at 60 and 80 Hz were significantly higher in the experimental group at all ages. The fatigue index was decreased significantly in the experimental group at the age of 5 wk. These results suggest that early unilateral nasal obstruction may increase the contraction force of the tongue-protruding muscles and prolong the duration of muscle contraction, which may influence the shape and development of the craniofacial complex.

Functional compartmentalization of the human superficial masseter muscle

Some muscles have demonstrated a differential recruitment of their motor units in relation to their location and the nature of the motor task performed; this involves functional compartmentalization. There is little evidence that demonstrates the presence of a compartmentalization of the superficial masseter muscle during biting. The aim of this study was to describe the topographic distribution of the activity of the superficial masseter (SM) muscle's motor units using high-density surface electromyography (EMGs) at different bite force levels. Twenty healthy natural dentate participants (men: 4; women: 16; age 20±2 years; mass: 60±12 kg, height: 163±7 cm) were selected from 316 volunteers and included in this study. Using a gnathodynamometer, bites from 20 to 100% maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF) were randomly requested. Using a two-dimensional grid (four columns, six electrodes) located on the dominant SM, EMGs in the anterior, middle-anterior, middle-posterior and posterior portions were simultaneously recorded. In bite ranges from 20 to 60% MVBF, the EMG activity was higher in the anterior than in the posterior portion (p-value = 0.001).The center of mass of the EMG activity was displaced towards the posterior part when bite force increased (p-value = 0.001). The topographic distribution of EMGs was more homogeneous at high levels of MVBF (p-value = 0.001). The results of this study show that the superficial masseter is organized into three functional compartments: an anterior, a middle and a posterior compartment. However, this compartmentalization is only seen at low levels of bite force (20-60% MVBF).

Fiber type composition of the human quadratus plantae muscle: a comparison of the lateral and medial heads

BACKGROUND

The human quadratus plantae muscle has been attributed a variety of functions, however no consensus has been reached on its significance to foot functioning. The architecture of the human quadratus plantae consists of an evolutionarily conserved lateral head, and a medial head thought to be unique to Man. Surveys of human anatomy have demonstrated the absence of either the medial or lateral head in 20% of the population, which may have implications for foot functioning if each muscle head performs a discrete function.

METHODS

We investigated the quadratus plantae from eleven formalin-embalmed specimens with a mean age of 84 ± 9 years. Immunohistochemical methods were used to determine the percentage of Type I and Type II muscle fibers in the medial and lateral heads of the quadratus plantae from these specimens.

RESULTS

Results showed striking homogeneity in fiber type composition within an individual, with an average difference in Type I fiber content of 4.1% between lateral and medial heads. Between individuals, however, the ratio of fiber types within the quadratus plantae was highly variable, with Type I fiber percentages ranging from 19.1% to 91.6% in the lateral head, and 20.4% to 97.0% within the medial head.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding of similar fiber type composition of lateral and medial heads within an individual supports the hypothesis that the two heads have a singular function.

Task-dependent control of the jaw during food splitting in humans

Although splitting of food items between the incisors often requires high bite forces, rarely do the teeth harmfully collide when the jaw quickly closes after split. Previous studies indicate that the force-velocity relationship of the jaw closing muscles principally explains the prompt dissipation of jaw closing force. Here, we asked whether people could regulate the dissipation of jaw closing force during food splitting. We hypothesized that such regulation might be implemented via differential recruitment of masseter muscle portions situated along the anteroposterior axis because these portions will experience a different shortening velocity during jaw closure. Study participants performed two different tasks when holding a peanut-half stacked on a chocolate piece between their incisors. In one task, they were asked to split the peanut-half only (single-split trials) and, in the other, to split both the peanut and the chocolate in one action (double-split trials). In double-split trials following the peanut split, the intensity of the tooth impact on the chocolate piece was on average 2.5 times greater than in single-split trials, indicating a substantially greater loss of jaw closing force in the single-split trials. We conclude that control of jaw closing force dissipation following food splitting depends on task demands. Consistent with our hypothesis, converging neurophysiological and morphometric data indicated that this control involved a differential activation of the jaw closing masseter muscle along the anteroposterior axis. These latter findings suggest that the regulation of jaw closing force after sudden unloading of the jaw exploits masseter muscle compartmentalization.

Effectiveness of cationic liposome-mediated local delivery of myostatin-targeting small interfering RNA in vivo

This study evaluated the effectiveness of local administration of cationic liposome-delivered myostatin-targeting siRNA. Myostatin (Mst)-siRNA and scrambled (scr)-siRNA-lipoplexes were injected into the masseter muscles of wild type and dystrophin-deficient mdx mice, which model Duchenne muscular dystrophy. One week after injection, the masseter muscles were dissected for histometric analyses. To evaluate changes in masseter muscle activity, masseter electromyographic (EMG) measurements were performed. One week after local administration of Mst-siRNA-lipoplexes, masseter muscles and myofibrils were significantly larger compared to control masseter muscles treated with scr-siRNA-lipoplexes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses revealed significant upregulation of the myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin and significant downregulation of the adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (CEBPα) in masseter muscles treated with Mst-siRNA-lipoplexes. The duty times of masseter muscle activity exceeding 5% showed a slight tendency to increase in both wild type and mdx mice. Therefore, cationic liposome-mediated local administration of Mst-siRNA could increase muscular size and improve muscle activity. Since cationic liposomes delivered siRNA to muscles effectively and are safe and cost-effective, they may represent a therapeutic tool for use in treating muscular diseases.

Local applications of myostatin-siRNA with atelocollagen increase skeletal muscle mass and recovery of muscle function

Background

Growing evidence suggests that small-interfering RNA (siRNA) can promote gene silencing in mammalian cells without induction of interferon synthesis or nonspecific gene suppression. Recently, a number of highly specific siRNAs targeted against disease-causing or disease-promoting genes have been developed. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of atelocollagen (ATCOL)-mediated application of siRNA targeting myostatin (Mst), a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, into skeletal muscles of muscular dystrophy model mice.

Methods and Findings

We injected a nanoparticle complex containing myostatin-siRNA and ATCOL (Mst-siRNA/ATCOL) into the masseter muscles of mutant caveolin-3 transgenic (mCAV-3Tg) mice, an animal model for muscular dystrophy. Scrambled (scr) -siRNA/ATCOL complex was injected into the contralateral muscles as a control. Two weeks after injection, the masseter muscles were dissected for histometric analyses. To investigate changes in masseter muscle activity by local administration of Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex, mouse masseter electromyography (EMG) was measured throughout the experimental period via telemetry. After local application of the Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex, masseter muscles were enlarged, while no significant change was observed on the contralateral side. Histological analysis showed that myofibrils of masseter muscles treated with the Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex were significantly larger than those of the control side. Real-time PCR analysis revealed a significant downregulation of Mst expression in the treated masseters of mCAV-3Tg mice. In addition, expression of myogenic transcription factors was upregulated in the Mst-siRNA-treated masseter muscle, while expression of adipogenic transcription factors was significantly downregulated. EMG results indicate that masseter muscle activity in mCAV-3Tg mice was increased by local administration of the Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex.

Conclusion

These data suggest local administration of Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex could lead to skeletal muscle hypertrophy and recovery of motor disability in mCAV-3Tg mice. Therefore, ATCOL-mediated application of siRNA is a potential tool for therapeutic use in muscular atrophy diseases.

A ³¹P-magnet resonance spectroscopy study on the metabolism of human masseter in individuals with different vertical facial pattern

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate differences in masseter metabolism by (31)P-Chemical Shift Imaging (CSI) in adult individuals with different vertical facial patterns. The clinical study should be supported by functional findings at the mRNA level after orthognathic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Twenty-two male volunteers (mean age 24.6) were divided into a deep-bite (NL/ML 11.8 ± 2.3°) and open-bite group (NL/ML 34.1 ± 2.6°). Vertical jaw relationship, gonial angle, and masseter volume were defined and compared with the phosphate values obtained from the (31)P spectra. Student t test and regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

Phosphocreatine related strongly to muscle volume (P < .001), gonial angle (P < .001), and ML/NL angle (P < .01). Pi was found to be related to gonial angle (P < .05). Muscle volume was found to be inversely related to ML/NL (P < .01) and to the gonial angle (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

A difference in masseter muscle metabolism between long- and short-faced subjects was confirmed at rest position.

Molecular changes in detrained & retrained adult jaw muscle

A hypofunctional masticatory system was developed in 21-day-old male rats by feeding them a soft diet for 27 weeks. Retraining of a parallel group for 6 weeks was achieved by switching back to a hard diet after 21 weeks. A control group was fed a hard diet for 27 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the expression levels of the myosin heavy chain isoform genes MYH 1 and 2 (fast), 3 (embryonic) and 7 (slow) in the deep masseter were compared using qRT-PCR analysis. The gene expressions of MYH 3 and MYH 7 were significantly higher in the rehabilitation group compared with the normal and hypofunctional group, but no significant differences were found in regards to the gene expression of MYH 1 and 2. Retraining made it possible for the slow (MYH 7) isoform levels to adapt to the increased mechanical load. The increased level of embryonic (MYH 3) isoform could be due to the need of creation of new MYH isoforms.

Regional variation in IIM myosin heavy chain expression in the temporalis muscle of female and male baboons (Papio anubis)

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether high amounts of fast/type II myosin heavy chain (MyHC) in the superficial as compared to the deep temporalis muscle of adult female and male baboons (Papio anubis) correlates with published data on muscle function during chewing. Electromyographic (EMG) data show a regional specialization in activation from low to high amplitude activity during hard/tough object chewing cycles in the baboon superficial temporalis.(48,49) A positive correlation between fast/type II MyHC amount and EMG activity will support the high occlusal force hypothesis.

DESIGN

Deep anterior temporalis (DAT), superficial anterior temporalis (SAT), and superficial posterior temporalis (SPT) muscle samples were analyzed using SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis to test the prediction that SAT and SPT will show high amounts of fast/type II MyHC compared to DAT. Serial muscle sections were incubated against NOQ7.5.4D and MY32 antibodies to determine the breadth of slow/type I versus fast/type II expression within each section.

RESULTS

Type I and type IIM MyHCs comprise nearly 100% of the MyHCs in the temporalis muscle. IIM MyHC was the overwhelmingly predominant fast MyHC, though there was a small amount of type IIA MyHC (≤5%) in DAT in two individuals. SAT and SPT exhibited a fast/type II phenotype and contained large amounts of IIM MyHC whereas DAT exhibited a type I/type II (hybrid) phenotype and contained a significantly greater proportion of MyHC-I. MyHC-I expression in DAT was sexually dimorphic as it was more abundant in females.

CONCLUSIONS

The link between the distribution of IIM MyHC and high relative EMG amplitudes in SAT and SPT during hard/tough object chewing cycles is evidence of regional specialization in fibre type to generate high occlusal forces during chewing. The high proportion of MyHC-I in DAT of females may be related to a high frequency of individual fibre recruitment in comparison to males.

Human masseter muscle fibers from the elderly express less neonatal Myosin than those of young adults

In contrast to limb muscles where neonatal myosin (MyHC-neo) is present only shortly after birth, adult masseter muscles contain a substantial portion of MyHC-neo, which is coexpressed with mature MyHC isoforms. Changes in the numerical and area proportion of muscle fibers containing MyHC-neo in masseter muscle with aging could be expected, based on previously reported findings that (i) developmental MyHC-containing muscle fibers exhibit lower shortening velocities compared to fibers with exclusively fast MyHC isoforms and (ii) transformation toward faster phenotype occurs in elderly compared to young masseter muscle. In this study, we detected MyHC isoforms in the anterior superficial part of the human masseter muscle in a sufficiently large sample of young, middle-aged, and elderly subjects to reveal age-related changes in the coexpression of MyHC-neo with adult MyHC isoforms. MyHC isoforms were visualized with immunoperoxidase method and the results were presented by (i) the area proportion of fibers containing particular MyHC isoforms and (ii) the numerical proportion of fiber types defined by MyHC-1, -2a, -2x, and -neonatal isoform expression from a successive transverse sections. We found a lower numerical and area proportion of fibers expressing MyHC-neo as well as a lower area proportion of fibers containing MyHC-1 in elderly than in young subjects. We conclude that the diminished expression of MyHC-neo with age could point to a lower regeneration capacity of masseter muscle in the elderly.

Deep and superficial masseter muscle blood flow in women

PURPOSE

Although changes in blood perfusion have been described as being associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) myofascial pain, very little is known about blood flow levels in the deep and superficial masseter muscle. This study investigated blood flow in deep and superficial sites of six healthy female participants at baseline and during intermittent and continuous biting exercises and recovery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood flow was monitored unilaterally using a single-fiber probe laser Doppler flowmeter. The blood flow was continuously monitored at baseline and during two biting exercises: (a) intermittent at 25%, 50%, and 100% maximum voluntary bite force for 30 seconds each followed by 90 seconds rest between each biting level and (b) continuous biting at similar maximum voluntary bite force levels followed by 90 seconds rest.

RESULTS

There was significantly higher blood flow in the deep sites compared to the superficial sites (p < 0.001) and a significant increase in blood flow during biting compared to baseline (p < 0.001). There were no significant changes in blood flow among the three levels of biting, between the intermittent and continuous exercises, or from baseline blood flow compared to recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed regional differences in masseter muscle blood flow, perhaps related to differences in muscle fiber type and pattern of muscle fiber recruitment.

Wearing of complete dentures reduces slow fibre and enhances hybrid fibre fraction in masseter muscle

Edentulous conditions and use of complete dentures alter the function of jaw muscles, which is presumably reflected in the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform composition. This study is the first dealing with MyHC isoforms expression in edentulous persons with the aim to clarify to which extent the decreased functional load following teeth loss contributes to the changed muscle phenotype during ageing. We analysed MyHC expression in old masseter muscle at decreased and full functional load by comparing age-matched edentulous and dentate subjects. Edentulous subjects had upper and lower complete dentures. Dentate subjects had at least 24 natural teeth in continuous dental arches with two molars present in each quadrant and normal intermaxillary relationship. The adaptive response to the reduced masticatory load was lower numerical and area proportion of MyHC-1 expressing fibres and higher numerical proportion of hybrid fibres in edentulous compared with dentate subjects with no significant difference in the proportion of MyHC-neo-expressing fibres between both groups. We conclude that the observed differences in the proportion of fibre types between denture wearers and dentate subjects cannot be ascribed to degenerative changes intrinsic to the ageing muscle, but to functional differences in muscle activity and to morphological alterations of stomatognathic system accompanying the complete teeth loss.

Response of masticatory muscles to passive stretch stimulus - from perspectives of functional appliances

Objective

The aims of this study were to examine whether a passive stretch stimulus by means of a functional appliance induces changes in the fiber composition of masticatory muscles and whether these changes are similar to the changes in stretched limb muscle fibers by using RT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemical assays.

Methods

Five male New Zealand White rabbits were fitted with a prefabricated inclined plane on the maxillary central incisors to force the mandible forward (- 2 mm) and downward (- 4 mm). Further, 1 hind limb was extended and constrained with a cast so that the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) was stretched when the animal used the limb. The animals were sacrificed after 1 week and the masseter, lateral pterygoid, and EDL were processed and compared with those from control animals (n = 3).

Results

The stretched EDL had a significantly higher percentage of slow fibers, whereas the stretched masticatory muscles did not show changes in the composition of the major contractile proteins after 7 days.

Conclusions

The transition of fiber phenotypes in response to a stretch stimulus may take longer in the masticatory muscles than in the limb muscles.

Differences in fibre type composition between human masseter and biceps muscles in young and adults reveal unique masseter fibre type growth pattern

The human jaw system is different from those of other primates, carnivores, ruminants, and rodents in temporomandibular joint and muscle anatomy. In adults, jaw muscles also differ markedly from limb and trunk muscles in composition and distribution of fibre types. It can be assumed that age-related changes between young age to adulthood in terms of craniofacial growth, teeth eruption, and improvement of jaw functions are paralleled by alterations also in composition and distribution of jaw muscle fibre types. To address this question, we have examined the fibre type composition of the human masseter, a jaw closing muscle, at young age. For comparison, the young biceps brachii was examined. The results were compared with previous data for adult masseter and biceps muscles. Young masseter and biceps were similar in that type I fibres outnumbered other fibre types and were of the same diameter. However, they differed in composition of other fibre types. Young masseter contained fibre types I, IM, IIC, IIAB, IIB, and scarce IIA, with regional differences, whereas young biceps showed types I, IIA, IIAB, and few IIB. Young masseter differed from young biceps also by smaller type II fibre diameter and by containing fetal MyHC. In addition, the masseter and biceps differed in age-related changes of composition and distribution of fibre types between young age and adulthood. We conclude that the human masseter is specialized in fibre types already at young age and shows a unique fibre type growth pattern, in concordance with being a separate allotype of muscle.

Functional and architectural complexity within and between muscles: regional variation and intermuscular force transmission

Over the past 30 years, studies of single muscles have revealed complex patterns of regional variation in muscle architecture, activation, strain and force. In addition, muscles are often functionally integrated with other muscles in parallel or in series. Understanding the extent of this complexity and the interactions between muscles will profoundly influence how we think of muscles in relation to organismal function, and will allow us to address questions regarding the functional benefits (or lack thereof) and dynamics of this complexity under in vivo conditions. This paper has two main objectives. First, we present a cohesive and integrative review of regional variation in function within muscles, and discuss the functional ramifications that can stem from this variation. This involves splitting regional variation into passive and active components. Second, we assess the functional integration of muscles between different limb segments by presenting new data involving in vivo measurements of activation and strain from the medial gastrocnemius, iliotibialis cranialis and iliotibialis lateralis pars preacetabularis of the helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) during level running on a motorized treadmill. Future research directions for both of these objectives are presented.

Muscle spindle composition and distribution in human young masseter and biceps brachii muscles reveal early growth and maturation

Significant changes in extrafusal fiber type composition take place in the human masseter muscle from young age, 3-7 years, to adulthood, in parallel with jaw-face skeleton growth, changes of dentitions and improvement of jaw functions. As motor and sensory control systems of muscles are interlinked, also the intrafusal fiber population, that is, muscle spindles, should undergo age-related changes in fiber type appearance. To test this hypothesis, we examined muscle spindles in the young masseter muscle and compared the result with previous data on adult masseter spindles. Also muscle spindles in the young biceps brachii muscle were examined. The result showed that muscle spindle composition and distribution were alike in young and adult masseter. As for the adult masseter, young masseter contained exceptionally large muscle spindles, and with the highest spindle density and most complex spindles found in the deep masseter portion. Hence, contrary to our hypothesis, masseter spindles do not undergo major morphological changes between young age and adulthood. Also in the biceps, young spindles were alike adult spindles. Taken together, the results showed that human masseter and biceps muscle spindles are morphologically mature already at young age. We conclude that muscle spindles in the human young masseter and biceps precede the extrafusal fiber population in growth and maturation. This in turn suggests early reflex control and proprioceptive demands in learning and maturation of jaw motor skills. Similarly, well-developed muscle spindles in young biceps reflect early need of reflex control in learning and performing arm motor behavior.

The Ca(2+)-binding protein calretinin is selectively enriched in a subpopulation of the epithelial rests of Malassez

During tooth development, the inner and outer enamel epithelia fuse by mitotic activity to produce a bilayered epithelial sheath termed Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS). The epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM) are the developmental residues of HERS and remain in the adult periodontal ligament (PDL). Although the cellular regulation of the Ca(2+)-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin-D28k, and calretinin has been reported in the inner and outer enamel epithelia during tooth development, an involvement of Ca(2+)-binding proteins in the ERM has not so far been characterized. Among the three Ca(2+)-binding proteins tested (calbindin D28k, parvalbumin, calretinin), we have only been able to detect calretinin in a subpopulation of adult rat molar ERM, by using quantitative immunohistochemical and confocal immunofluorescence techniques. TrkA (a marker for ERM) is present in numerous epithelial cell clusters, whereas calretinin has been localized in the cytosol and perinuclear region of a subpopulation of TrkA-positive cells. We conclude that, in inner and outer enamel epithelial cells, Ca(2+) is regulated by calbindin, parvalbumin, and calretinin during tooth development, whereas in the ERM of adult PDL, Ca(2+) is regulated only by calretinin. The expression of Ca(2+)-binding proteins is restricted in a developmental manner in the ERM.

The masticatory contractile load induced expression and activation of Akt1/PKBalpha in muscle fibers at the myotendinous junction within muscle-tendon-bone unit

The cell specific detection of enzyme activation in response to the physiological contractile load within muscle-tendon-bone unit is essential for understanding of the mechanical forces transmission from muscle cells via tendon to the bone. The hypothesis that the physiological mechanical loading regulates activation of Akt1/PKBα at Thr308 and at Ser473 in muscle fibers within muscle-tendon-bone unit was tested using quantitative immunohistochemistry, confocal double fluorescence analysis, and immunoblot analysis. In comparison to the staining intensities in peripheral regions of the muscle fibers, Akt1/PKBα was detected with a higher staining intensity in muscle fibers at the myotendinous junction (MTJ) areas. In muscle fibers at the MTJ areas, Akt1/PKBα is dually phosphorylated at Thr308 and Ser473. The immunohistochemical results were confirmed by immunoblot analysis. We conclude that contractile load generated by masticatory muscles induces local domain-dependent expression of Akt1/PKBα as well as activation by dually phosphorylation at Thr308 and Ser473 in muscle fibers at the MTJ areas within muscle-tendon-bone unit.