抄録
In order to clarify the influence of tooth separation on the central nervous system, spontaneous motor activity and brain levels of monoamine-related compounds were measured in mice treated with experimental tooth separation. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, tooth separation of mice (ddY, male, weighing 26-28 g at acquisition) was performed by inserting a plastic plate of 1 mm thickness between the upper incisors and fixing it by adhesive resin. The measurements were carried out at 1, 2 and 3 days after treatment. The results obtained are summarized as follows.
1) Spontaneous motor activity in mice treated with tooth separation decreased significantly compared with that in control mice. 2) In several discrete regions of the brain, turnover of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin in treated mice changed significantly compared with that in control mice. These findings suggest that experimental tooth separation may act as a stressor to the central nervous system of mice.
