The bite-raised condition enhances the aging process in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus.

The bite raised condition decreases the number of neurons and increases the amount of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the hippocampus of aged SAMP8 mice. In the present study, we examined whether these effects differ between the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. In bite-raised SAMP8 mice, the number of neurons was significantly lower in the hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) subfields compared to control mice. In the bite raised condition, the number of neurons was significantly lower in both the dorsal and ventral CA3 subfields, and the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein-labeled astrocytes was increased in the CA1, CA3, and DG subfields, compared to control mice. These data suggest that in aged SAMP8 mice, the bite-raised condition enhanced aging processes in both the dorsal and ventral hippocampus.

The bite-raised condition in aged SAMP8 mice reduces the expression of glucocorticoid receptors in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus.

In the present study, we examined whether the effects induced by the bite-raised condition on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression differ between the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in SAMP8 mice. In the bite-raised condition, the number of GR-immunoreactive cells was significantly decreased in both the dorsal and ventral CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) subfields of the hippocampus compared to control mice, as revealed by immunohistochemical analysis. The decrease in the number of GR-immunoreactive cells tended to be greater in the dorsal hippocampus than in the ventral hippocampus. Only in the DG subfield was there a significant difference in the number of GR-immunoreactive cells between the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. These findings suggest that in aged SAMP8 mice, the bite-raised condition decreases the number of GR-immunoreactive cells in both the dorsal and ventral hippocampus.

Occlusal disharmony attenuates glucocorticoid negative feedback in aged SAMP8 mice.

To evaluate the mechanism underlying impaired cognitive function due to occlusal disharmony, we examined the effect of the bite-raised condition on spatial performance and hippocampal expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and glucocorticoid receptor messenger ribonucleic acid (GRmRNA) using behavioral, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization techniques. Learning ability in the water maze test was significantly impaired in aged bite-raised mice compared with age-matched control mice. There was no difference between control and bite-raised young and middle-aged mice. Also, immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analysis showed that the bite-raised condition enhanced the age-related decrease in GR and GRmRNA expression in the hippocampus. In particular, GR and GRmRNA expressions were significantly decreased in aged bite-raised mice compared to age-matched control mice. These findings suggest that the bite-raised condition in aged SAMP8 mice decreases GR and GRmRNA, which impairs the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal feedback inhibition, thereby leading to memory deficits.

Occlusal disharmony induces spatial memory impairment and hippocampal neuron degeneration via stress in SAMP8 mice.

We examined the effect of occlusal disharmony in senescence-accelerated (SAMP8) mice on plasma corticosterone levels, hippocampal neuron number, and spatial performance in the water maze. The bite-raised condition was associated with an accelerated age-related decline in spatial memory, increased plasma corticosterone levels, and a decreased number of neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region. The findings suggest that the bite-raised condition in aged SAMP8 mice induces hippocampal neuron loss, thereby leading to senile memory deficits.

Denture-handling ability of elderly persons with dementia: examination of time spent inserting and removing dentures.

To evaluate the effects of dementia on denture-handling ability, we measured the amount of time that elderly subjects spent inserting and removing dentures. Elderly subjects with dementia tended to take more time inserting and removing dentures than those who were not demented. Only elderly patients who were severely demented needed significantly more time removing partial dentures than they did removing complete dentures. There was no significant difference between the time spent inserting dentures and removing dentures. The greater amount of time required to insert or remove dentures for subjects with dementia was due to disorientation. The results indicate that elderly people with mild to moderate dementia are able to insert and remove their dentures without help.

Duration-dependent effects of the bite-raised condition on hippocampal function in SAMP8 mice.

We evaluated the effect of the duration of occlusal disharmony induced chronic stress on hippocampal function by examining spatial memory in the Morris water maze and on the number of hippocampal neurons in aged senescence-accelerated prone (SAMP8) mice. The bite of SAMP8 mice was raised 0.1 mm using dental adhesive. Groups of mice were tested in the Morris water maze 8, 11, or 22 d after raising the bite. The results indicated that the longer the duration of the bite-raised condition, the greater the impairment in spatial learning ability and the greater the decrease in the number of neurons in the hippocampal CA3 subfield. Thus, behavioral and morphologic deficits induced by the bite-raised condition in aged SAMP8 mice are influenced by the duration of the occlusal disharmony.

Jaw muscle functional anatomy in northern grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster, a carnivorous murid.

The jaw muscle anatomy of the northern grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster, was observed and the mechanical basis of the insectivorous/carnivorous adaptations were examined. Compared with Peromyscus maniculatus, a granivorous relative of Onychomys, there is a reduction of some aponeuroses within the masseter deep layer. This characteristic indicates that shearing meat or crushing arthropod exoskeletons requires less occlusal pressure than does grinding plant material. In Onychomys both the anterior and posterior portions of the masseter deep layer are more anterodorsally inclined, so that the line of action of the masseter lies further from the jaw joint than in Peromyscus. A strong incisal bite for killing vertebrates such as other rodents can be produced by a jaw mechanism with the high lever advantage of this muscle, which compensates for the decline in muscle mass. Our quantitative analysis suggests that the disappearance of an aponeurosis along the zygomatic plate in Onychomys decreases the stretch of the corresponding muscle, i.e., the anterior fibers of the masseter deep layer, accompanying jaw opening, and increases the maximum gape necessary for hunting large prey.

Molarless-induced changes of spines in hippocampal region of SAMP8 mice.

We examined the effect of the molarless condition on the dendritic spines of hippocampal pyramidal cells in SAMP8 mice in comparison to its effect on learning ability in a maze test. The molarless condition caused a decrease in the number of the spines of CA1 pyramidal cells only in the aged mice showing a reduced learning ability. The results suggest the involvement of the molarless condition in an attenuation of input activities in the hippocampal synapses.

Internal architecture, origin-insertion site, and mass of jaw muscles in Old World hamsters.

The jaw muscle (i.e., masticatory, suprahyoid, and extrinsic tongue) anatomy and mass were examined in four genera of Old World hamsters (cricetine murids), Mesocricetus, Cricetulus, Tscherskia, and Phodopus. The masseter was the largest and most complicated of the muscles examined. In the superficial layer, a few ventral fibers form a small medially turned portion with an insertion site more similar to those of sciurids than of other murids. In Mesocricetus, the superficial layer has a discrete anteroventral portion that has not been reported for other murid rodents. Examination of the fiber attachment sites indicated that the deep layer contains four parts and the medial layer contains three parts. The deep layer originates from two aponeuroses that are firmly connected to each other at their anterior ends and lie along the zygomatic arch. The aponeurosis of insertion for the deep layer is situated along the masseteric ridge and the dorsal border of the angular process, but is absent in its middle part, consistent with reports in two relatives, sigmodontine and arvicoline murids. In cricetine murids, unlike in other rodents, fibers insert on the dorsal narrow strip of the posterior mandibular aponeurosis, not on its broad medial aspect. The relative mass of some masticatory and suprahyoid muscles is related to body mass. Small species (Cricetulus and Phodopus) have relatively larger masseter and mylohyoid muscles and smaller temporalis and geniohyoid muscles than large species (Mesocricetus and Tscherskia).