Alleviation of trigeminal ganglion inflammation by antioxidant treatment in a pulpitis model

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the pain induced in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) by pulpitis and investigate the changes in inflammation-related signaling pathways within the TG. Additionally, the study compared pain intensity and inflammatory signaling changes after treatment with the antioxidant coenzyme Q10. Methods: An experimental model of acute pulpitis was created by treating the maxillary left first molar of 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice (20–25 g) with AITC. Neuronal activation in the TG was analyzed 3 days after treatment using optical imaging. Protein expression of inflammation-related molecules (TNFα, IL-6, c-Fos) and antioxidant-related pathways (Nrf2, SOD) was evaluated using western blot analysis. Results: In the TG, a significant increase in pain-related neuronal activity was observed in the pulpitis model, accompanied by an upregulation of the inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6. Coenzyme Q10 treatment mitigated the heightened neuronal activity by altering membrane potentials. Additionally, Nrf2 and SOD expression significantly reduced following treatment with coenzyme Q10. These findings suggest that coenzyme Q10 modulates nociceptive signal processing in pulpitis-induced pain by influencing the inflammatory response through its antioxidant properties. Conclusions: Coenzyme Q10 is a potential therapeutic agent for alleviating pain and tissue damage associated with pulpitis through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.