DRUG THERAPY OF BRUXISM
AS MODULATION OF STRESS ANSWERS.

Renato COCCHI MD, neurologist and medical psychologist3

(Italian translation)

Summary

When not produced bu occlusal factors, bruxism is strictly related to stress, being an unspecific answer of it. Following decennial experiences in drug treatment of bruxism by modulation of stress responses in Down’s syndrome, PDD and MR children, possible neuropathological mechanisms linking stress and involuntary masseter muscle activation are discussed. Modulation of stress responses by drugs are explained in general and in particular for bruxism, with the rationale of the drugs use.

Key words: Bruxism; stress; drug therapy.

 

Drug modulation of stress reactions

Symptoms


Home Page  / / /  Pagina iniziale

 

Before my trial to explain the link between stress and bruxism, I need to give a warning. My knowledge of bruxism is closely limited to bruxism in mentally retarded, in Down's syndrome persons and in PDD subjects, because asa neurologist and a medical psychologist I have special interest in this kind of patients.

So I could have a different approach and language of dentists. I hope I shall make myself understood as well.

Defining bruxism

This is the definition of bruxism I shall have in mind for this paper.

Bruxism is a parafunctional behaviour of the temporo-mandibular joint getting to teeth grinding or teeth clenching. This second phenomenon is not widely accepted as bruxism.

According to Palla, 1989, bruxism belongs to "the Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) pain and noise", one key symptom out of 3 for the diagnosis of somato-gnatic myoarthropathy.

Bruxism does not work out for all "the TMJ pain and noise" but I shall strictly refer to bruxism.

As for the occlusal tooth contact as the result of this Temporo-mandibular Joint Diseases (TJD) we can have:

- teeth grinding, when teeth are rubbing together, mandibular against maxillary teeth, with a particular and unmistakable noise.

- teeth clenching, when mandibular teeth are strongly pressing against maxillary teeth.

- teeth chattering, when mandibular teeth are beating against maxillary teeth about 1-4 times per second.

I do not think my problem to write about damages that can follow these three phenomena. Dentists knows very well them

Are teeth grinding, teeth clenching and teeth chattering three aspects of the same TJD or three different phenomena? In my opinion they do not belong to the same TJD, although all three are symptoms of TJDs.

Cold, fear and some types of infective fever (eg. Bacterial pneumonia fever) induce only teeth chattering.

Clostridium tetani induces only teeth clenching as it happens in the 1st phase of the epileptic Grand Mal seizure (the tonic phase).

As we reported (Cocchi and Lamma, 1987), we only found teeth grinding in Down's syndrome children.

Perhaps dentistry professionals can put forward many other examples, part of which also denying my simplistic categorization, but I think the above exaples as useful to explain why I have just written.

Incidence and etiology

There is not full agreement on the incidence of bruxism. A recent review made by Belgian authors states the mean prevalence of bruxism as about 20% in young and adult populations (De Meyer and De Boever, 1997).

This shows the extent of this behaviour and its importance from the dentistry point of view. Bruxism in mentally disables has a higher rate as reported for institutionalized adults by Richmond et al., 1984. As for us, from a consecutive unselected series of 366 Down's syndrome children (mean age 5 years and 10 months) dr Lamma and I (1987) found a prevalence of 41.80%.

This growing sub-population has this trouble among many others and need careful attention by specialized professionals in this field too.

The symptoms more frequently associated with bruxism are, in rate order: Muscle-stiffness, muscle-pain, limitation of mouth opening, TMJ-internal derangements, toothwear. No one of these symptoms is peculiar of bruxism, but they can be found in other somato-gnatic myoarthropathies as reported by Palla, 1989.

As for the etiology of bruxism, there was a long controversy on this topic. Psychological stress was asserted as the main causal factor according to experimental data, but it does not fully explain sleep bruxism (Morse, 1982). Personality features have been often found and they always fitted the so-called "neurotic personality" whit strong genetic bases.

Palla, 1989, by referring to all somato-gnatic myoarhropathies, points up stress factors, the only ones with experimental evidence.

As for bruxism in Down children, in 1988 dr Lamma and I underlined stress because an ex-juvantibus drug therapy. Before I am going forward, I must say that I believe in stress as the causal factor of bruxism. But I have to remember you that psychological stress is only one type of stress, and perhaps not the more important.

Stress and bruxism

By speaking of stress and stress reactions (or answers) in general we can note two kind of reaction to stress: stress with a lack of energy and stress with an excess of energy.. Between these two, I shall refer to stress reactions with an excess of energy, because they are the only ones pertinent to bruxism.

Now I need to define the concept of stress.

Although I do not fully agree, this is the most authoritative stress definition:

" .... it generally refers to physical or psychological alterations capable of disrupting homeostasis." (Cullinan et al., 1995).

Waiting for a more precise one, in 1996 I proposed the following as an operational definition. We can term stress a set of relations linking external or internal stressors of physical, chemical, biological / metabolic and psychological / social origin, to nonspecific reactions of a living organism. These reactions come out from the modification of homeostasis made by the stressor or stressors, and act as a common final pathway.

As you can see psychological stressors are only one part among all stressors, although surely the best investigated. Stress reactions can come out from external stressors, or internal stressors or both. An illness can act per se as an internal stressor (Loo and Loo, 1986). The more frequent of internal stressor is the falling of proge-sterone just before menses in fertile women. Its stress reanctions constitutes the premenstrual syndrome without any progesterone-linked specific symptom (Cocchi, 1998; Mortola 1992; Mortola, 1997)

Bruxism then can be due to internal stress reactions to an illness itself, and I think this is the case of Down’s syndrome, or PDD, or other Mental Retardation, as for my long lasting experience.

How stress can produce bruxism is a big question and I cannot give you a sure answer in this paper. I shall only put forward two hypotheses, but I don't know what is the best one, of course if there is a best one.

Now at least three questions arise:
How stress is working till to drive at bruxism?
All stressed people has bruxism as a symptom of stress?
Why bruxism is declining with age?

One should agree with me by saying that the second question has a negative answer. Not all stressed people react with bruxism. This is a fact of common evidence. To explain it we surely can remember the idea of "the target organ" as the privileged body place where stress reactions apply themselves in first beating.

Among other possibilities, some people react to stress with bruxism. Is it the TMJ the only body district where these people react to stress? I cannot give you a sound answer to that question because I am lacking experience in normal individuals. As for mentally retarded I could assert that it is not so, as dr Lamma and I investigated recently (Cocchi and Lamma, 1999).

About the third question - Why bruxism is declining with age - new difficulties come out. To say declining with age does not mean that bruxism disappears with age. Old people without any tooth, or with amovible dental prosthesis are reported as bruxing with gums.

Ageing is known as a state of reduced ability to fight stress (You, 1996; Pike et al., 1997; Friedman e Irwin, 1997; as for cows, see Garcia-Belenguer et al., 1996).

But reduced prevalence means reduced stress, while ageing is a stressor. Are we faced to different type of stress, - bruxism-promoting stress, and bruxism non-promoting stress - or age could break the link between stress and bruxism in some people?

If ageing could drive to stress with a lack of energy, the contradiction should have its solution, but I did not read any research on this topic.

Exploring possible pathogenesis of bruxism: Brain neuronal links

The first question needs now to be discussed.

Which brain conditions under stress can induce bruxism in receptive persons?

As I said above we can forward two hypotheses. The following is the simplest. Stress usually produces un unbalance of trigeminal nuclei, mainly of the nucleus motorius nervi trigemini with an overstimulation of it. This stimulation acts directly on muscle masseter ( and on muscle temporalis, in a reduced way) so inducing bruxism.

Of course I do not have any confirmation of this hypothesis, and I can think about it only by analogy.

In many Down's syndrome children with convergent squint the antistress therapy I prescribed could correct their squint (Cocchi, 1991).

I must remember you that oculomotorii nuclei are located in midbrain and pons and in this type of squint is due to a paralysis of muscle rectus lateralis following an an abnormal function (low function) of the nucleus nervi abducenti. The contrary hypothesis can also be forwarded: An overfunction of the muscle rectus medialis following an hyperstimulation of the related nucleus nervi adducenti can also be hypothesized. In bruxism there is not a low function but an excess stimulation of nucleus motorius nervi trigemini, and this fact seems closer to the hypothesis of hyperstimulation for convergent squint.

On the other hand, I must say that the same antistress drug therapy reduces or make the disappearance of both bruxism and squint in Down's children.

The second hypothesis is very complicated. Better than limbic system, stress increased hypothalamus glutamate excites in its turn vagal nuclei (Dorsalis, Tractus solitarius, Ambiguus). But afferent fibres from nervus glosso-pharyngeus and nervus vagus give collaterals to nucleus spinalis nervi trigemini. The same makes an afferent fibre of the nervus facialis (Lippert, 1998) The nucleus motorius nervi trigemini will be over aroused by the normal coordination between sensorial and motoric nuclei of the same nerve. The recently reported anti-bruxism effect of propranolol, a beta blocker (Sioeholm et al, 1996; Amir et al, 1997), the pro-bruxism effect of apomorphine and indifferent (Gomez et al 1998) or pro-bruxism effect of haloperidol (Amir et al., 1997) suggest that dopamine can be involved per se or as noradrenalin and adrenaline precursor in that behaviour.

Exploring possible pathogenesis of bruxism: Peripheral mechanisms added.

As for ACh mechanisms during stress, I need to point up the possibility of an increased synthesis of peripheral ACh following a reduced turnover of brain ACh and its increased efflux of choline, its precursor, from the brain (see further). Greater availability of ACh in masseter muscle could be responsible of spontaneous fasciculations you can see in many "neurotic" individuals in TMJ rest conditions. In addition, more ACh increases muscle tone and muscle strength by a prolonged action on the neuromuscular end-plate. I am not sure about it, but I think that the habit of chewing bubble gum by many individuals could be a consummatory behaviour to reduce this ACh excess. If so, people with increased peripheral ACh during sleep could need to chew the bubble gum since the awakening.

Exploring possible pathogenesis of bruxism: Other brain mechanisms

Night bruxism comes out from the increased action of glutamate, because its reduced turnover when sensory afferent nerves using glutamate are at rest during sleep.

Night bruxism can appear after sleep onset 18 minutes. Most of bruxism occurred in stage 2 sleep and Rem sleep and was related to a mechanism of developing arousal (Bader et al, 1997)

Neurotransmitters involved in bruxism are in part the same involved in stress: GABA as the first responder to stress by reducing A inhibition; again GABA by increasing B inhibition and by that way it inhibits the turnover of ACh, Dopamine e Serotonin. This last brain monoamine seems not directly involved in bruxism.

Glutamate increases because its reduced transformation into GABA following a feedback mechanism. According to propranolol trials noradrenaline and adrenalin seem also involved.

Prelude to drug therapy: 1. Modulation of stress reactions by drugs.

As you have read, there at least two ways to fight bruxism by drugs: the propranolol therapy for sleep bruxism, and the antistress therapy for night and day bruxism. They differ because propranolol therapy desensitises the final or one of final receptors (the beta receptor of adrenalin). Antistress therapy aims to increase stress thresholds and by this way to reduce bruxism as a stress symptom.

In first case your referent is bruxism, in the second case it is stress and you need diagnosing stress in a careful way.

To understand modulation by drugs of stress reactions we need to have a very short and rough sum up of some neurochemical mechanisms involved in reactions to chronic stress of a human body:

1. Direct acting on type A gabaergic receptors; these modify their conformation and by this way reduce type A gabaergic inhibition (Horger and Roth, 1995);

2. Reduced need of GABA for type A gabaergic inhibition means more GABA into the synaptic cleft (Cocchi, Patrucco, Zerbi, 1987);

3. Increased type B gabaergic inhibition that, in its turn, inhibits brain acetylcholine (Scatton and Bartholini, 1980), serotonin (Scatton et al., 1986);

As for acetylcholine, its reduced turnover seems to drive to a reduced brain synthesis, lowering blood-brain barrier transport of choline by reduced high-affinity uptake (Hope, 1979). Although a low-affinity uptake starts working (Hope, 1979) there is more choline supply for the synthesis of peripheral acetylcholine.

Moreover a choline efflux from the brain has been found in old people and in reduced diet (Klein, Koppen and Loffelholz, 1990; Klein et al., 1992), both stress factors, according to the present point of view.

The supposed increasing of peripheral ACh due to an increased synthesis during stress parallels many clinical findings and it was found into the vagal district (Hata et al., 1986; Kita et al., 1986).

The reduced brain turnover of ACh ( with less need of its precursor, the choline) seems to have its causal factor by an increased B Gabaergic inhibition on ACh (Williford et al, 1981; Goto et al., 1985).

This could account, at least in part, for increased strength of parasympathetic / vagal responses, elicited from the brain by direct stimulation of type B gabaergic receptors (Williford et al, 1981; Goto et al., 1985).

4. Compensatory incretion of peripheral adrenalin (Zigmond, Finlay and Sved, 1995), and glycocorticoids (Sorg and Kalivas, 1995), with immune-suppressive action (Dhabhar et al., 1996; Haessig et al., 1996; Dantzer, 1997; Friedman and Irwin, 1997).

5. More GABA into the synaptic cleft backwards reduces GAD activities (Baxter, 1976, Loescher 1980) with reduced transformation of glutamate into GABA.

6. Excess of glutamate, besides being excitatory and eventually neurotoxic (Rothman and Olney, 1986), seems to increase mesoprefrontal dopamine (Horger and Roth, 1995). Although controversial, the same appears to happen for noradrenalin activity in Locus Coeruleus, the main brain site for this neurotransmitter (Zigmond, Finlay and Sved, 1995).

The glutamate excitement of cells of some hypothalamic nuclei, namely the dorso-medialis and the paraventricularis stimulates the answers of the nucleus dorsalis vagi and nucleus tractus solitarius, with an increase of the vagal outflow (Kunos e Varga, 1995; Yoneda e Tache', 1995; Brann, 1995; Pluzhnichenko, 1997).

7. The serotonin reduced turnover, besides a depressed mood, can inhibit the serotoninergic antipain answer starting from Rafe Magnus.

Of course, this is only a very simplistic general frame, but it is a good point to start.

2. The choice of drugs to modulate stress responses.

There is a growing interest in drug treatment of stress (Davidson, 1997)

Drug modulation of stress responses mainly acts on GABA and related brain mechanisms and its results have a direct effect on the EEG. EEG mapping seems a tool to point the time course out, as I did in old people with intellectual disturbs (Cocchi, 1996) According to what I have just said, the main focal points to act by drugs are:

1. Basic interventions:

- increase type A gabaergic inhibition;
- decrease type B gabaergic inhibition;
- Increase the GAD action.

By themselves those induce also:

- decreasing cortisol incretion and the peripheral adrenergic compensation, by decreased activation of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-cortico-suprarenal axis (Buckingham, 1998; Schedlowski and Schmidt, 1996);

- decreasing of possible glutamate excess by an increased transformation of it into GABA.
- reduction of type B Gabaergic inhibition of Ach and serotonin turnovers.

2. Other interventions related to the presence of specific symptoms:
- increase brain acetylcholine synthesis, if in need;

- decrease both vagal outflow and increased strength of vagal responses.
- increase of brain serotonin, in order to feed up the serotoninergic antipain answer;
- acting on dopamine, but this last intervention could ask the help of expert specialists able to evaluate the direction of current dopaminergic symptoms.

Being a cascade events having its starting point on reduced type A GABAergic inhibition, from a theoretical point of view one could use only one drug, a benzodiazepine (Schoch et al., 1985). This is not the best way to afford it, because we shall need high dosages, which in turns produce side effects (eg.: drowsiness and muscle relaxation). They could also induce a new share of stress reactions (chemical stress due to the foreign nature of drugs, according to Antelman, 1988; Cocchi 1998; Covelli et al., 1998).

As I did, mainly in Down children and in autistic children (Cocchi, 1996), we can do better using:

- A low dose benzodiazepine, to act on type A GABAergic receptors (eg.: clobazam 10-20 mg; diazepam 3-12 mg: daily doses). Benzodiazepines, as antistress drugs reduce the cortisol incretion (Bruni et al. 1980; Viukari, 1983).

- a brain Ca-agonist (nimodipine, verapamil or, better, carbamazepine (Crowder and Bradford, 1987) to reduce type B GABAergic inhibition (Liron et al., 1985; Borman, 1988). As for carbamazepine, 200-400 mg/daily could be the mean daily regimen). The decreasing of type B GABAergic inhibition on brain ACh could stop or at least cut down the efflux of choline from the brain.

- pyridoxine (150 mg daily), acting as cofactor of all decarboxylases, GAD inclusive;
- if in need, pyritinol (100 mg/daily), a good increaser of brain ACh synthesis (Blusztajn and Martin, 1988; Greiner, Haase and Seifried, 1988; Toledano and Bentura, 1994); An increased synthesis of brain Ach drives the synthesis of peripheral Ach to normal, by reducing the peripheral choline supply via an increased blood-brain barrier uptake of the choline.
- If the case, a low dose antidepressant drug has to be added.
Nearly always serotoninergic mechanisms need to be balanced too. In this case use a low doses antidepressant drug, able to potentiate the antipain serotoninergic mechanism descending from the Rafe. You can use antidepressant drugs, from tricyclics to SSRIs. You can increase their action by increasing the brain serotonin synthesis with the direct precursor, 5-hydroxytriptophan. Vit.B6, as the decarboxylase catalyst for the transformation of 5HTP into serotonin, has already its place in this regimen.

- if in need, according to current symptoms, you can act on the dopamine for a short time by using or an antipyshotic (haloperidol or perphenazine at very low doses) or with the pro-do-paminergic amantadine.

- the whole reduction of stress responses by reducing the cortisol incretion, fights the reduction of cell-mediated immunity (Dhabar et al., 1996; Haessig et al., 1996; Cocchi, 1999).
- the increasing synthesis of GABA reduces the glutamate excess and by this way reduces the endogenous opiates incretion (Stout, Kilts and Nemeroff, 1995). Less hypothalamic glutamate decreases the vagal nuclei stimulation, which are drivers of all the vagal parasympathetic answers increasing in stress conditions with even an excess of energy (Brann, 1995).

Evidently a multi-drugs therapy like this does not easily fill a standard protocol. This because of the individual features of stress responses, either constitutional either linked to the peculiar biological moment of that body.

On the other hand our brain does non work by independent relationships of causes and effects, and the poor efficacy in the long run of recent and expensive drugs used as monotherapy in Alzheimer disease has a cogent need. We cannot act on a sole non core point of a multiavariable system.

But the first three drugs (a benzodiazepine, a CA++ antagonist, and the vit. B6) are useful in most cases and can be adapted to every patient.

With these drugs too we need avoiding that prescribed doses higher than the individual tolerance become in their turn biochemical stressors (Cocchi, 1998)

Drug therapy of bruxism

A part from propranolol, a very new suggestion of which I do not own any experience, I am working on drug therapies on stress since at least 20 years (Cocchi, 1981; Cocchi, 1989, 1990, 1990a; 1990b; 1991a; 1991b; 1991; 1991; 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998; Cocchi e Favuto, 1993)The aspecific drug therapy on stress reduces bruxism; this was my starting point.

In adults pyridoxine, carbamazepine and a benzodiazepine are the best basic medication. Other drugs can be added according to specific current symptoms.

In Down children glutamine, pyridoxine and a benzodiazepine showed good results, but in some cases carbamazepine had to be added.

As for L-glutamine, it is the precursor of GABA via l-glutamic acid and its importance is growing awareness in last years (Laake et al., 1995; Shupliakov et al., 1997).

Conclusions

Bruxism is a non specific symptom of stress, because it could have occlusal factors and because not all stressed people have this symptom. When local factors have been excluded, stress origin of bruxism must be considered and a proper drug therapy could be prescribed, acting on GABA and related neurochemical mechanisms.

References

Amir I, Hermesh H, Gavish A. Bruxism secondary to antipsychotic drug exposure: a positive response to propranolol. Clin. Neuropharmacol 1997, 20: 86-89.

Antelman SM. Stressor-induced sensitization to subsequent stress: Implications for the development and treatment of clinical disorders. In: Kalivas PW, Barnes CD (eds). Sensitization in the central nervous system. Academic Press, New York 1988: 227-259.

Bader GG, Kampe T, Tagdae T, Karlsson S, Blomquist M. Descriptive physiological data on a sleep bruxism population. Sleep 1997, 20: 982-990.

Baxter FC. Some recent advances in studies of GABA metabolism and compartmentation. In: Roberts E, Chase TN, Tower DB (eds). GABA in nervous system function. Raven, New York 1976: 61-87.

Bergant A.M., Kirchler H., Heim K., Daxenbichler G., Herold M., Schroecksnadel H.: Childbirth as a biological model for stress? Associations with endocrine and obstetric factors. Gynecol Obstet Invest, 1998, 45(3): 181-5.

Blusztajn K., Martin K.J.: The mode of action of pyritinol. Fortschr. Med.. 1988, 106/suppl. 49: 9-10.

Borman J.: Electrophysiology of GABA A and GABA B receptor subtypes. TINS 1988, 11: 112-116.

Brann D.W.: Glutamate: a major excitatory transmitter in neurendocrine regulation. Neurendocrinology 1995, 61: 213-225.

Bruni G., Dal Pra P., Dotti M.T., Segre G.: Plasma ACTH and cortisol levels in benzodiazepine treated rats. Pharmacol. Res. Commun. 1980, 12/2: 163-175.

Buckingham J.C.: Stress and the hypothalamo-pituitary-immune axis. Int. J. Tissue Res. 1998, 20: 23-34.

Cocchi R. Susceptibility to infective respiratory diseases in depressed children. Epidemiological survey of 126 subjects, clinical-therapeutic report of 61 cases. Acta psychiat. belg. 1981, 81: 350-365.

Cocchi R.: The anticipation of walking in drug treated infants: A controlled study. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1989, 2: 15-19.

Cocchi R.: The use of drugs to modulate stress responses reduces the time of intensive care needed by Down children to recover after open-heart surgery. It. J. Intellect. Impair.1990, 3: 11-16.

Cocchi R.: The pharmacological approach to treating childhood psychoses. Theoretical basis. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1990, 3: 185-193.

Cocchi R.: Childhood psychoses: Results of drug treatment with Down and non-Down subjects. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1990, 3: 195-202.

Cocchi R.: Childhood psychoses: Results of drug treatment on the social behaviour of Down and non-Down subjects. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1991, 4: 15-22.

Cocchi R.: Childhood psychoses:Results of drug treatment on the school achievement of Down and non-Down subjects. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1991, 4: 23-30.

Cocchi R.: Un caso di leucodistrofia metacromatica trattato con farmaci. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1991, 4: 83-86.

Cocchi R.: Childhood psychoses: Results of drug treatment on the stereotyping behaviours of Down and non-Down subjects. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1991, 4: 159-166.

Cocchi R.: Childhood psychoses: Results of drug treatment on the language development of Down and non-Down subjects. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1991, 4: 167-174.

Cocchi R: Drug therapy of squint in Down syndrome subjects: Results according to the length of drug taking: Report on 125 cases. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1991, 4: 9-14.

Cocchi R. School learning in 8-year-old Down children treated or not with drugs. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1992, 5: 143-148.

Cocchi R. Drug therapy in Down's Syndrome: A theoretical context. It. J. Internat. Impair. 1993, 6: 143-154.

Cocchi R.: Modulation by drugs of stress responses as a non specific therapy in mental retardation. Workshop held at the 10th IASSID World Congress, Helsinki, July 1996. Abstract no. 673 in: Program & Abstracts, HalfPoint Oy / Media Screen Finland Oy, Helsinki 1996: 172.

Cocchi R.: Drug therapy of pseudodementia as modulation of stress responses: Three cases. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1996, 9: 173-180.

Cocchi R.: Drug therapy of upper respiratory tract infections' easiness in Downs: A survey on 328 persons. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1998, 11: 9-17.

Cocchi R.: The pre-menstrual syndrome as the paradigm of an internal biochemical stress. Paper presented at the 2nd World Congress on Stress. Melbourne 25-29 October, 1998.

Cocchi R.: Unvanted effects of drugs and pre-menstrual syndrome: Is stress the link? Paper presented at the 2nd World Congress on Stress. Melbourne 25-29 October, 1998.

Cocchi R.: Drugs therapy of stress on upper respiratory tract infections easiness in Downs: Survey on one-year and two-years results. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1998, 11: 161-171.

Cocchi R.: Glutamine as the key amini acid in promoting cell-mediated immunity: 20 years of clinical experience. Amino Acids 1999, 17: 104.

Cocchi R., Favuto M.: Miglioramenti motori dopo 3-8 mesi di trattamento con farmaci, nei Down. Riv. It. Disturbo Intellet. 1993, 6: 251-258.

Cocchi R., Patrucco M., Zerbi F.: Presupposti razionali per l'aggiunta di una benzodiazepina alle forme epilettiche non controllate in monoterapia. Riv. Neurobiologia 1987, 33/1: 33-48.

Cocchi R., Lamma A.: Bruxism in soggetti affetti da sindrome di Down. Studio epide-miologico su 366 casi. Odontostomatologia & Implantoprotesi 1987, no.4: 66-69.

Cocchi and Lamma: An investigation on children or young adults with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders, with or without Down’s syndrome. It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1999, 12: 17-21.

Cohen B.M., Renshaw P.F., Stool A.L. et al.: Decreased brain choline uptake in older adults. An in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Jama sept 20, 1995, 274: 902-907.

Covelli V., Maffione A.B., Nacci C. et al.: Stress, neuropsychiatric disorders and immunological effects exerted by benzodiazepines. Immonopharmacol. Immunotoxicol.: 1998, 20: 199-209.

Crowder J.M., Bradford H.F.: Common anticonvulsivants inhibits Ca++ uptake and amino acid neurotransmitter release in vitro. Epilepsia 1987, 28: 368-382.

Cullinan W.E., Herman J.P., Helmreich D.L., Watson S.J.Jr: A neuroanatomy of stress. In: Friedman M.J., Charney D.S., Deutch A.J. (eds) : Neurobiological and clinical consequences of stress: From normal adaptation to PTSD. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1995: 3-26.

Dantzer R.: Stress and immunity: What we have learned from psychomeuro-immunology? Acta Physiol. Scand. Suppl. 1997, 640: 43-46.

Davidson J.R.: Biological therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder: an overview. J Clin Psychiatry 1997, 58 Suppl 9: 29-32.

Dhabhar F.F., Miller A.H., McEwen B.S., Spencer R.L.: Stress-induced changes in blood leukocyte distribution. Role of adrenal steroid hormones. J. Immunol. 1996, 157: 1638-1644.

Friedman E.M., Irwin M.R.: Modulation of immune cell function by the autonomic nervous system. Pharmacol. Ther. 1997, 74: 27-38.

Garcia-Belenguer S; Palacio J; Gasc4on M; Acena C; Revilla R; Mormede P.: Differences in the biological stress responses of two cattle breeds to walking up to mountain pastures in the Pyrenees. Vet Res, 1996. 27(4-5): 515-26.

Gomez FM, Areso MP, Giralt MT et al.Effects of dopaminergic drugs. occlusal sisharmonies, and chronic stress on non-functional masticatory activity in the rat, assessed by incisal attrition. J Dent Res 1998, 77: 1454-1464.

Goto Y., Tache H., Debas H., Novin D.: Gastric acid and vagus nerve response to GABA agonist baclofen. Life Sci. 1985, 36: 2471-2475.

Greiner H.E., Haase A.F., Seyfried C.A.: Neurochemical studies on the mechanism of action of pyritinol. Pharmacopsychiatry 1988, 21/suppl. 1: 26-32.

Haessig A., Wen-Xi L., Staempfli K.: Stress-induced suppression of the cellular immune reactions: On the neurendocrine control of the immune system. Med. Hypotheses 1996, 46: 551-555.

Hata T., Kita T. et al.: Total Ach content, and activities of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in brain and duodenum of SART-stressed (repeated cold-stressed) rat. Japan. Journal of Pharmacology 1986, 41: 475-485.

Hope R.S.: High affinity choline uptake transport and Acetyl-CoA production in brain and the role in the regulation of acetylcholine synthesis. Brain Res. Rev. 1979, 1: 313-344.

Horger B.A. , Roth R.H.: Stress and central amino acid system. In: Friedman M.J., Charney D.S., Deutch A.J.(eds): Neurobiological and clinical consequences of stress: From normal adaptation to PTSD. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1995: 61-81.

Klein J., Koppen A., Loffelholz K.: Small rises in plasma choline reverse the negative arteriovenous difference of brain choline. J. Neurochem. 1990, 55: 1231-1236.

Klein J., Koppen A., Loffelholz K., Schmitthenner J.: Uptake and metabolism of choline by rat brain after acute choline administration. J. Neurochem. 1992, 58: 870-876.

Kita T., Hata T. et al.: Changes of total acetylcholine and the activity of related enzymes in SART-(repeated cold)-stressed rat brain and duodenum. Japan. Journal of Pharmacology 1986, 40: 174-177.

Kunos G., Varga K.: The tachycardia associated with the defense reaction involves activation of both GABA A and GABA B receptors in the nucleus tracti solitarii. Clin. Exper. hypertens. 1995, 17: 91-100.

Laake J.H. et al.: Glutamine from glial cells is essential for the maintenance of the nerve terminal pool of glutamate: Immunogold evidence from hippocampal slice cultures. J. Neurochem. 1995, 65: 871-881.

Lippert H. Tafeln Leitungsbahnen des Menschen. 2 Aufl. Urban und Schwarzenberg, Muenchen, 1998.

Liron Z, Roberts E, Wong E. Verapamil is a competitive inhibitor of Gamma-aminobutyric acid and calcium uptakes by mouse brain subcellular particles. Life Sci. 1985, 36: 321-327.

Loescher W.: Effects of inhibitors of GABA transaminase on the synthesis, binding, uptake and metabolism of GABA. J. Neurochem. 1980, 34: 1603-1608.

Loo P., Loo H.: Le stress permanent. Masson, Paris, 1986.

McEwen B.S.: Adrenal steroid actions on brain. Dissecting the fine line between protection and damage. In: Friedman M.J., Charney D.S., Deutch A.J.(eds): Neurobiological and clinical consequences of stress: From normal adaptation to PTSD. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1995: 135-147.

Morse D.R.: Stress and bruxism. J. Hum. Stress 1982, 8: 43-54.

Mortola J.F.: Assessment and management of premenstrual syndrome.Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol, 1992 4(6):877-85.

Mortola JF: Premenstrual syndrome. Curr Ther Endocrinol Metab, 1997, 6:251-6.

Palla S.: La diagnosi e la terapia delle mioartropatie del sistema somato-gnatico. (trad it. F.Pezzo) Copyright S.Palla, Zuerich 1989: 3-19.

Pike J.L., Smith T.L., Hauger R.L. et al.: Chronic life stress alters sympathetic. neurendocrone, and immune responsivity to an acute psychological stressor in humans. Psychosom. Med. 1997, 59: 447-457.

Pluzhnichenko EB.: Spatial organization of hypothalamic neurons projecting to the "gastric region" of the vagosolitary complex. Neurosci. Behav. Physiol. 1997, 27: 688-691.

Richmond G, Ruch GD, Dolfi R, Wasilewsky JW. Survey of bruxism in an institutionalized mentally retarded population. Am J Ment Defic 1984, 88: 418-426.

Rothman SM., Olney JW.: Glutamate and the pathophysiology of Hypoxic-Ischemic damage. Ann. Neurol. 1986, 19: 105-111.

Scatton B., Bartholini G.: Modulation by GABA of cholinergic transmission in the striatum. Brain Res. 1980, 183: 211-216.

Scatton B., Nashikava T., Dennis T., Dedek J., Curet O., Zivkovic B., Bartholini G.: GABAergic modulation of central noradrenergic and serotoninergic neuronal activity. In: Bartholini G., Lloyid K.G., Morselli P.L. (eds): GABA and mood disorders. Experimental and clinical research. LERS monograph series vol. 4, Raven, New York 1986: 67-75.

Schedlowski M., Schmidt R.E.: [Stress and immune system] Naturwissenschaften 1996, 83: 214-220 (originale in tedesco).

Schoch P., Richard J.G., Haering P. et al.: Co-localisation of GABA A receptors and benzodiazepine receptors in the brain shown by monoclonal antibodies. Nature 1985, 314: 168-171.

Shuplakow O. et al.: Glial and neuronal glutamine pools at glutamergic synapses with distinct properties. Neuroscience 1977, 77: 1201-1212.

Sjoeholm TT, LehtinenI, Pila SJ. The effect of propranolol on sleep bruxisn: hipotethical consideration based on a case study. Clin Auton Res. 1996, 6: 37-40

Sorg B.A., Kalivas P.W.: Stress and neuronal sensitisation. In: Friedman M.J., Charney D.S., Deutch A.J.(eds): Neurobiological and clinical consequences of stress: From normal adaptation to PTSD. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1995: 83-102.

Stout S.C., Kilts C.D., Nemeroff C.B.: Neuropeptides and stress. Preclinical findings and implications for pathophysiology. In: Friedman M.J., Charney D.S., Deutch A.J. (eds): Neurobiological and clinical consequences of stress: From normal adaptation to PTSD. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1995: 103-123.

Toledano A., Bentura M.L.: Pyritinol facilitates the recovery of cortical cholinergic deficits caused by nucleus basalis lesions. J. Neural Trasm. 1994, 7: 195-209.

Viukari M.: Sleep and benzodiazepines. In: Costa E. (ed): The benzodiazepines.From molecular biology to clinical practice. Raven New York, 1983: 279-286.

Williford D.J., Ormsbee H.S., Norman W. et al.: Hindbrain GABA receptors influence parasympathetic outflow to the stomach. Science 1981, 214: 193-194.

Yoneda M., Tache' Y.: SMS 201-995-induced stimulation of gastric acid via the dorsal vagal complex and inhibition via the hypothalamus in anaesthetized rats. Br. J. Pharmacol. 1995, 116: 2303-2309.

Zigmond M.J., Finlay J.M., Sved A.F.: Neurochemical studies of central noradrenergic responses to acute and chronic stress. In: Friedman M.J., Charney D.S., Deutch A.J. (eds): Neurobiological and clinical consequences of stress: From normal adaptation to PTSD. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1995: 45-60.

 

Paper printed on It. J. Intellect. Impair. 1999, 12: 3-12

 

Author’s address: dr Renato Cocchi, via Rabbeno, 3
42100 Reggio Emilia (Italy)

renatococchi@libero.it


Italian trnslation

Drug modulation of stress reactions

Symptoms


Home Page  / / /  Pagina iniziale