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Cross-sectional characteristics of the masseter muscle: an ultrasonographic study.

Cross-sections of the masseter muscle may now be measured non-invasively using ultrasonography. The purpose of the present study was to determine (1) whether the scanning level may affect cross-sectional measurements and (2) whether measurements made at identical levels may be reproducible. The study included 42 asymptomatic volunteers. Unilateral ultrasonographic investigation was performed with a linear (B-scan) 7.5 Mhz small-part transducer to register cross-sections of the masseter muscle on five different levels. Scans were made on the relaxed and contracted muscle. Measurements were made in two sessions with a time interval of at least 5 min. Statistical analysis consisted of univariate analysis of variance for repeated measurements. Data were analysed for reproducibility by using the method error and measurement error. For the ultrsonographic measurements the main effects of the variables 'session' (P=0.0001), 'level' (P=0.0001), and 'condition' (P=0.0001) were significant. Analysis of simple session-within-level effects revealed a significant difference between the repeated measurements for the most upper level (P=0.022), the upper level (P=0.012), and the most lower level (P=0.0001) of the relaxed muscle. An additional significant effect was found for the most lower level of the contracted muscle (P=0.015). Cross-sections evaluated at the middle (method error=0.31 mm; measurement error=2.0%) and lower level (method error=0.32 mm; measurement error=2.4%) of the contracted muscle were the most reproducible. The conclusion is that ultrasonography is a reproducible method for measuring cross-sections at the middle and lower level of the contracted masseter muscle.

Adolescent↗

Botulinum toxin type A in the management of masseter muscle hypertrophy.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the response of 6 patients with masseter muscle hypertrophy to botulinum toxin type A therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients with unilateral or bilateral masseter muscle hypertrophy received intramuscular injection of the botulinum toxin type A. The functional and cosmetic results were evaluated as well as recurrence. RESULTS: In all patients, satisfactory regression of the masseter muscle hypertrophy occurred and mild muscular pain was relieved. Recurrence was observed in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The use of botulinum toxin type A in masseter muscle hypertrophy therapy was shown to be a successful and safe treatment method. This procedure to control parafunctional activities involving the masticatory muscles of patients appears to be useful.

Adolescent↗

Cephalometric analysis of masseter muscle and dentoskeletal morphology in dentate and edentulous humans.

A study was done to clarify the attachment position of the superficial masseter muscle and its relationship with craniofacial morphology in dentate and edentulous subjects. Data were obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs of a total of 39 cadavers in which the superficial masseter muscle had been defined with colloidal barium. Principal component analysis provided evidence that the lower masseter muscle width was associated with the size of the ramus, and related to the position of the anterior margin of the muscle. Linear discriminant function data suggested that ramus width, coronoid height and the distance between the anterior margin of the masseter muscle and the mandibular notch contributed most to the observed difference between dentate and edentulous subjects. The derived function correctly assigned 100% of dentate and 95% of edentulous subjects. The results of this study indicated that a reduction of masticatory function was associated with the position of the anterior border of the masseter muscle insertion and also with differences in ramus dimension, the most significant of which were differences in the coronoid process and gonial angle. In general, age was not a significant determinant of variation in superficial masseter muscle dimensions or orientation.

Age Factors↗

Effects of easily chewable diet and unilateral extraction of upper molars on the masseter muscle in developing mice.

The effects of easily chewable diets and unilateral extraction of upper molars on the masseter muscle were studied in developing mice. A liquid diet requiring no mastication suppressed the development of the masseter muscles more than a fine-grained diet, and extraction of unilateral upper molars also caused inhibition of muscle development. Moreover, both unilateral extraction of upper molars and a liquid diet had an additive effect on the suppression of the postnatal development of the masseter muscle, and bilateral suppression of the development of the masseter muscle was induced following unilateral extraction of upper molars. These findings suggest that the sensory input from the sensory endings in the periodontal ligament may also play an important role in the postnatal development of the masseter muscle and that there may be some crossing pathways to convey the sensory input coming from the side of the extracted upper molars to the contralateral motor neurons via the interneuronal circuits.

Animals↗

Masseter muscle atrophy after ostectomy of the mandibular angle in rabbits.

In order to get information about changes in the masseter muscle when operations are performed on the mandibular angle area, we classified 70 New Zealand White rabbits into group O (ostectomy) and group D (dissection). In group O we performed unilateral ostectomy of the mandibular angle, while in group D we performed unilateral dissection of the masseter muscle limited to the mandibular angle area. Then we compared morphologic, histologic, and histochemical changes in experimental masseter muscles with those in normal control masseter muscles. We examined 5 rabbits in each group at the following intervals: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 weeks. In group D (dissection), there were no remarkable changes at all examinations. In group O (ostectomy), there was a 30 percent decrease in experimental muscle mass compared with control muscle. On examination of muscle fiber types, a decrease in type I fibers and an increase in type IIA and IIB fibers were noticed (p < 0.05). Each experimental muscle fiber became more irregularly and angularly shaped, and mean fiber area also was reduced. Sarcomere lengths of experimental muscle fibers were significantly reduced to 80 percent of control values (p < 0.05) during the first 4 weeks, but after 6 weeks they were lengthened to control values. Collagen and fibrin did not show much difference between experimental and control muscles. All these findings imply that masseter muscle atrophy after ostectomy of the mandibular angle is not due to connective-tissue changes but to individual muscle fiber atrophy accompanied by functional adaptation of sarcomeres and changes in muscle fiber types.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Abundant expression of myosin heavy-chain IIB RNA in a subset of human masseter muscle fibres.

Type IIB fast fibres are typically demonstrated in human skeletal muscle by histochemical staining for the ATPase activity of myosin heavy-chain (MyHC) isoforms. However, the monoclonal antibody specific for the mammalian IIB isoform does not detect MyHC IIB protein in man and MyHC IIX RNA is found in histochemically identified IIB fibres, suggesting that the IIB protein isoform may not be present in man; if this is not so, jaw-closing muscles, which express a diversity of isoforms, are likely candidates for their presence. ATPase histochemistry, immunohistochemistry polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in situ hybridization, which included a MyHC IIB-specific mRNA riboprobe, were used to compare the composition and RNA expression of MyHC isoforms in a human jaw-closing muscle, the masseter, an upper limb muscle, the triceps, an abdominal muscle, the external oblique, and a lower limb muscle, the gastrocnemius. The external oblique contained a mixture of histochemically defined type I, IIA and IIB fibres distributed in a mosaic pattern, while the triceps and gastrocnemius contained only type I and IIA fibres. Typical of limb muscle fibres, the MyHC I-specific mRNA probes hybridized with histochemically defined type I fibres, the IIA-specific probes with type IIA fibres and the IIX-specific probes with type IIB fibres. The MyHC IIB mRNA probe hybridized only with a few histochemically defined type I fibres in the sample from the external oblique; in addition to this IIB message, these fibres also expressed RNAs for MyHC I, IIA and IIX. MyHC IIB RNA was abundantly expressed in histochemical and immunohistochemical type IIA fibres of the masseter, together with transcripts for IIA and in some cases IIX. No MyHC IIB protein was detected in fibres and extracts of either the external oblique or masseter by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and electrophoresis. Thus, IIB RNA, but not protein, was found in the fibres of two different human skeletal muscles. It is believed this is the first report of the substantial expression of IIB mRNA in man as demonstrated in a subset of masseter fibres, but rarely in limb muscle, and in only a few fibres of the external oblique. These findings provide further evidence for the complexity of myosin gene expression, especially in jaw-closing muscles.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Succinylcholine-induced masseter muscle rigidity during bronchoscopic removal of a tracheal foreign body.

Masseter muscle rigidity during general anesthesia is considered an early warning sign of a possible episode of malignant hyperthermia. The decision whether to continue or discontinue the procedure depends on the urgency of the surgery and severity of masseter muscle rigidity. Here, we describe a case of severe masseter muscle rigidity (jaw of steel) after succinylcholine (Sch) administration during general anesthetic management for rigid bronchoscopic removal of a tracheal foreign body. Anesthesia was continued uneventfully with propofol infusion while all facilities were available to detect and treat malignant hyperthermia.

Anesthesia, General↗

Esterase profile of human masseter muscle.

The esterase profile of fresh human masseter muscle was investigated by use of histochemistry and electrophoresis. The histochemical methods included reactions for alpha-naphthyl esterase, myofibrillar ATPase, reverse myofibrillar ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase. In frozen sections of the muscle the coloured reaction product for esterases was present both as a diffuse sarcoplasmic coloration and as distinct granules. The intensity of diffuse reaction was used to classify the muscle fibres as strongly, moderately and weakly reacting. The fibres with strong esterase activity belonged to Type I and iiC. iM and Type II A fibres showed a moderate esterase reaction and Type II B fibres had a low activity. The electrophoretic gels stained for esterase activity showed that the human masseter muscle possesses a slow migrating double band with high enzyme activity and a cascade of faster migrating isoenzymes. In isoelectric focused gels the major esterases showed isoelectric points around pH 5.

Esterases↗

Postnatal changes in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in rat masseter muscle.

No published study on synaptogenesis in masseter muscle has focused on the shift of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) from the embryonic type (alpha(2)-, beta-, gamma- and delta-subunits) to the adult-type (alpha(2)-, beta-, epsilon- and delta-subunits) and the elimination of nAChRs outside the neuromuscular junction. To identify the time course of the nAChR transitions in rat masseter muscle between 1 and 63 days of age, the expression of delta-, epsilon- and gamma-subunit mRNAs was analysed by competitive polymerase chain reaction in combination with reverse transcription. The expression of the delta-subunit was high between 1 and 7 days of age, then decreased by 95% (P<0.0001) between 7 and 28 days, suggesting that the nAChR elimination occurs during this period. The quantity of the epsilon-subunit increased by approximately 600% (P<0.0001) between 1 and 21 days of age, whereas the quantity of the gamma-subunit decreased by 85% (P<0.0001) during the same period. This result indicates that the nAChR type shift is terminated at 21 days of age. The feeding behaviour of the rats inevitably changed from suckling to biting after 19 days of age, because they were weaned at that age. As the nAChR type shift was terminated soon after weaning, the termination could be related to the change in feeding behaviour. However, it might also be the case that nAChR elimination is not directly related to the change in feeding behaviour, as the elimination continued at the same rate for 9 days after weaning (from 19 to 28 days of age).

Animals↗

Maxillofacial morphology and masseter muscle thickness in adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate how the thickness of the masseter muscle relates to the maxillofacial morphology, including the thickness of alveolar process in the mandibular incisor region, and the thickness of the mandibular symphysis. The subjects consisted of 80 adult male volunteers (mean age: 23 years 8 months). The relationship between masseter muscle thickness and the maxillofacial skeleton was investigated by measuring the former by ultrasonography and the latter by roentgenographic cephalometry. The data were initially analysed using a multiple regression analysis. Thereafter, correlation coefficients were obtained by a simple regression analysis. The following results were found: 1. The thickness of the masseter muscle (mean +/- SD) was 15.8 +/- 3.0 mm in the relaxed state and 16.7 +/- 2.7 mm at maximal clenching. 2. Masseter muscle thickness was negatively correlated with the mandibular plane angle. 3. Masseter muscle thickness was positively correlated with the mandibular ramus height (Cd-Go), and the thickness of the alveolar process and that of the mandibular symphysis. It is therefore suggested that masticatory function influences the morphology of the mandible.

Adult↗

Histological study of masseter muscle in a mouse muscular dystrophy model (mdx mouse).

Histological changes in the masseter muscle were observed over time in mdx mice, a muscular dystrophy model. It was found that marked necrosis occurs about the time of weaning at around 4 weeks of age; then the tissue actively regenerates at 8 weeks and stabilizes as regenerated muscle with centronuclei at 15 weeks old. This study examined the centronucleus in regenerated muscle. The process from necrosis to regeneration in muscle fibers occurs a little later in the masseter muscle than in other limbic muscles. Regenerated muscles observed around 15 weeks after birth showed a moth-eaten appearance. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) observation of transverse sections of muscle fibers revealed that myofibrils surrounded lost regions in the area showing a moth-eaten appearance. Thus, some defensive mechanism may affect the ability of muscle fibers to maintain a function close to normal in mdx mice even though the muscle fibers develop muscular dystrophy. The function of the masseter muscle drastically changes from sucking to mastication behavior at around 4 weeks, and this was considered to influence the morphological changes in the muscle tissue. The moth-eaten appearance seen at 15 weeks may represent an appropriate myofibril reconstruction preventing invasion of the lost regions.

Aging↗

A monosynaptic pathway links the vestibular nuclei and masseter muscle motoneurons in rats.

Physiological evidence indicates that vestibular signals modulate the activity of motoneurons innervating the masseter muscle. Recently, experiments using transynaptic retrograde transport of pseudorabies virus provided anatomical evidence that many neurons concentrated in the dorsomedial part of the parvicellular division of the medial vestibular nucleus (MVePC) and the caudal prepositus hypoglossi (PH) provide inputs to motoneurons innervating the lower third of the superficial layer of the masseter muscle. However, it was not clear whether this vestibulo-trigeminal projection was monosynaptic or polysynaptic. The present study sought to determine whether neurons in the MVePC or PH project directly to motoneurons controlling the masseter muscle in rats. For this purpose, an anterograde tracer (biotinylated dextran amine, BDA) was injected into vestibular nuclei (mainly MVePC) or PH and a retrograde tracer (the beta-subunit of cholera toxin, b-CT) was injected into the masseter muscle ipsilateral or contralateral to the BDA injection site. Following injections of BDA into the vestibular nuclei or PH, anterogradely labeled axon terminals were observed bilaterally in the motor trigeminal nucleus (Mo5), particularly in the ventral, medial, and lateral portions of the nucleus; projections to dorsal Mo5 were sparse. In addition, retrogradely labeled motoneurons were located in the ventral and lateral portions of the ipsilateral Mo5. Moreover, anterogradely labeled terminals were observed to be in close proximity to motoneurons in the Mo5 that were retrogradely labeled from b-CT injections into the masseter muscle. This study provides direct evidence that a monosynaptic pathway exists between the MVePC and PH and masseter motoneurons.

Animals↗

Muscle force recruitment and biomechanical modeling: an analysis of masseter muscle function during mastication in Macaca fascicularis.

The main purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that as subjects chew with increasing levels of force, the ratio of the working- to balancing-side jaw-muscle force (W/B) decreases and begins to approach 1.0. We did this by analyzing relative masseter force in Macaca fascicularis using both strain gage and surface electromyographic (EMG) techniques. In addition, we also analyzed: 1) the relationship between jaw position using cineradiographic techniques and relative masseter force, 2) the timing differences between relative masseter force from the working and balancing sides, and 3) the loading and unloading characteristics of the masseter muscle. Our findings indicate that when macaques increase the amount of overall masticatory force during chewing, the W/B ratio for masseter force frequently (but not always) decreases and begins to approach 1.0. Therefore, our working hypothesis is not completely supported because the W/B ratio does not decrease with increasing levels of force in all subjects. The data also demonstrate timing differences in masseter force. During apple-skin mastication, the average peak masseter force on the working side occurs immediately at or slightly after the initial occurrence of maximum intercuspation, whereas the average peak masseter force on the balancing side occurs well before maximum intercuspation. On average, we found that peak force from the balancing-side masseter precedes the working-side masseter by about 26 msec. The greater the asynchrony between working- and balancing-side masseter force, the greater the difference in the relative magnitude of these forces. For example, in the subject with the greatest asynchrony, the balancing-side masseter had already fallen to about one-half of peak force when the working-side masseter reached peak force. Our data also indicate that the loading and unloading characteristics of the masseter differ between the working and balancing sides. Loading (from 50 to 100% of peak force) and unloading (from 100 to 50% of peak force) for the balancing-side masseter tends to be rather symmetrical. In contrast, the working-side masseter takes much longer to load from 50 to 100% of peak force than it does to unload from 100 to 50% of peak force. Finally, it takes on average about 35 msec for the working-side zygoma and 42 msec for the balancing-side zygoma to unload from 100 to 50% of peak force during apple-skin mastication, indicating that the unloading characteristics of the macaque masseter during mastication closely approximates its relaxation characteristics (as determined by muscle stimulation).

Animals↗

Normal side-to-side variation of the exteroceptive suppression of masseter muscle in young dentate adults.

Previous studies have shown that various stimuli applied in the orofacial region, evoke bilateral inhibitory responses in the jaw elevator muscles. The exteroceptive supression (ES) of the masseter muscle after electrical stimulation of the mental nerve, often appears as a double phase of inhibition interrupting the voluntary sustained contraction of the muscle. The aim of the present study was to investigate the normal bilateral variation of the masseteric ES in a control group of 20 healthy dentate adults, and to determine the range of its boundaries. The reflex was elicited by electrical stimulation of the mental nerves, during maximum intercuspal clenching. Generally, the overall mean values for the latencies and durations were in line with those reported in previous investigations, while no significant differences were found between the left and the right masseter muscles, regardless of the side of stimulation. However, in the intra-individual analysis, significant bilateral variation was occasionally recorded, particularly in the latency and duration of the late exteroceptive suppression. It was concluded that the exteroceptive suppression of the masseter muscle is a repeatable and clear bilateral reflex response, although an increased number of observations is recommended in normal subjects, before its use could be extended for diagnostic purposes.

Adult↗

Pain mediation by prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 in the human masseter muscle.

The pathophysiology behind chronic pain from masticatory muscles is unclear. Our hypothesis was that this pain is of inflammatory origin and associated with release of inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the presence of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the masseter muscle and plasma and their relation to myalgia. Nineteen patients with fibromyalgia, 19 with local myalgia of the masseter muscle, and 11 healthy individuals were examined with regard to local muscular pain intensity at rest and pressure pain threshold. Inclusion criteria were masseter muscle pain for at least 3 months and masseter muscle tenderness on digital palpation. Samples were obtained from the masseter muscle by microdialysis, and the dialysates and venous blood samples were analyzed with regard to PGE2 and LTB4 concentration. Intramuscular levels were found in all groups, with significantly higher levels of LTB4 in the patients with fibromyalgia, in whom PGE2 was positively correlated to muscular pain. In the healthy individuals PGE2 was negatively correlated to pressure pain threshold. In both patient groups but not in the healthy individuals LTB4 increased during the consecutive samplings. PGE2 and LTB4 were detectable in the plasma of all groups. In conclusion, both PGE2 and LTB4 were found in the human masseter muscle. LTB4 levels are increased on needle trauma in patients with myalgia. PGE2 levels are related to muscular pain in patients with fibromyalgia. Masseter muscle pain therefore seems to be partly of peripheral inflammatory origin in fibromyalgia.

Adult↗

Effects of soft diet on rat masseter muscle mitochondrial development.

There is not fine information regarding the influence of diet on development of masseter muscle and its mitochondria. Objective of this study is to compare mitochondrial enzyme activity, and morphology of masseter muscle fiber cells and its mitochondria prepared from rats fed soft diet to those fed hard diet. Cross-sectional area of fiber cells and number of mitochondria per unit area prepared from rats fed hard diet were greater than those of animals fed soft diet on postnatal day 60, and these differences decreased under both feeding conditions on days 120. Structure of mitochondrial cristae of rat fed hard diet was clear but that of fed soft diet ambiguous and contains many halos. Mitochondrial succinate-O2 and NADH-O2 oxidoreductase activities isolated from rats fed hard diet were higher than those of soft diet group over the period from days 30, and differences in both diet groups became the largest on days 60, and decreased on days 120. Our results indicated that development of masseter muscle fiber cells and mitochondria is hindered when rats are fed soft diet, but recover partially later, and hard diet is required for normal development of masseter muscle.

Animals↗

Fiber types and diameters in the porcine masseter muscle. A histochemical study.

Type I, I:B, II:A, and II:C fibers were identified by adenosine triphosphatase histochemistry in masseter muscles from 22 female pigs (1 year old, 70-90 kg body weight). Type II:B fibers were not found. This was in contrast to the findings of five fiber types in the porcine soleus muscles. In the porcine masseter the most prominent fiber type was II:A (75%). Type I fibers constituted 15% of the fiber types on average. Type I:B and II:C fibers were less frequent (4-6%). No significant difference was found between various biopsy locations, but there was a tendency towards more type I fibers in the deeper part of the masseter muscle. The mean fiber diameters were larger in the masseter muscles than in the soleus; however, the differences were significant only for fiber type I:B.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

[Facial morphology and the size and activity of the masseter muscle].

The study presented here was conducted for the purpose of investigating the possible relationship of masseter muscle size and activity to facial morphology. The study examined 50 adults, 25 males and 25 females, by means of electromyography, ultrasonography, and facial photography. The following results were obtained. There was considerable variation in masseter muscle activity and size both between the 2 groups and among individuals in each group. Partly there were strong differentiation's between the males and the females. The interrelationships between masseter muscle activity and size and facial morphology in both groups were generally weak, however, the links were more discernible in the women than in the men. Female subjects with thin faces and large mandibular planes had reduced masseter thickness, whereas women with a small anterior facial height index displayed when relaxed less masseter muscle activity and a smaller masseter width.

Adult↗