Objective: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of conditions affecting the jaw, surrounding muscles and associated structures. Researches indicate that TMD has implications for changes in nutritional behavior. This study investigates the impact of TMD on the food preference behavior of rats, examining various food models with differing caloric content, taste, and texture.
Design: Forty-two male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into six groups, comprising three control and three pain or TMD groups. Induction of TMD by injection of complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) into the left temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of rat serves as a model for studying TMD. Twenty-four hours post-TMD induction, the preference of animals to foods with differences in calories, taste and texture was evaluated with the help of an automatic preference measuring device.
Results: In terms of caloric preferences, the pain group exhibited a distinct shift towards high-calorie food. Taste preferences were marked by an increased preference for sweet food in the pain group. Texture preferences were altered, with the pain group displaying a preference for low-texture food.
Conclusion: TMD in rats leads to increased preferences for high-calorie and sweet foods, as well as altered preferences for food textures. These findings highlight the influence of TMJ pain on food preference behavior in rats.
Keywords: Food preference behavior; Rat; Temporomandibular disorders; Temporomandibular joint.
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