The importance of stimulus site and intensity in differences of pain-induced vascular reflexes in human orofacial regions

Studies in anaesthetized animals have indicated that noxious stimulation ma y produce marked blood flow changes in various orofacial structures, but th e influence of painful stimulation on the blood flow regulation of the orof acial area of humans has been studied only to a limited extent. The purpose of this investigation was to study whether there are differences in tempor al and spatial patterns of pain-induced vasoactive reflexes between various orofacial regions and hand in healthy human volunteers. Dynamic changes in blood flow in various orofacial regions elicited by painful stimulation of the tooth and finger were measured by means of Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) and computer-assisted infrared thrrmography (IRT). Blood flow of the finge r was recorded by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and plethysmography (PLET). During both stimulus paradigms there was a transient elevation in heart ra te (HR) and blood pressure (BP). At the same time there was a significant b lood flow decrease in the finger (LDF, PLET) and in the nose (LDI, IRT). in contrast to tooth stimulation, finger stimulation caused a mure marked blo od flow reduction in the finger. Only high intensity tooth stimulation, but not finger stimulation, caused a long-lasting vasodilatation both in lower and upper lip. The blood flow changes in the lips were not correlated with changes in systemic blood pressure or heart rate. In the cheek, there were no marked flow changes during either finger or tooth stimulation. These da ta indicate that painful tooth (regional) stimulation, but not finger (remo te) stimulation, can induce a long-lasting vasodilatation in parts of orofa cial tissues which cannot be explained by changes in central cardiovascular parameters. This tooth-stimulation-induced blood flow increase supports th e hypothesis of a special vasodilator reflex mechanism in the orofacial are a. Furthermore, tooth-stimulation-induced vasoconstriction in the nose and dilatation in the lips indicate that separate vasoactive reflex mechanisms may exist for different orofacial regions (C) 2001 International Associatio n for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. Ail rights rese rved.