AUTHOR=Viggiano Andrea , Ponticorvo Sara , Canna Antonietta , Secondulfo Carmine , Sbordone Ludovico , Russo Antonio , Monda Marcellino , Di Salle Francesco , Esposito Fabrizio TITLE=Vitamin C Acutely Affects Brain Perfusion and Mastication-Induced Perfusion Asymmetry in the Principal Trigeminal Nucleus JOURNAL=Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience VOLUME=15 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/systems-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2021.641121 DOI=10.3389/fnsys.2021.641121 ISSN=1662-5137 ABSTRACT=

Prolonged mastication may induce an asymmetric modification of the local perfusion of the trigeminal principal nucleus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible influence of vitamin C (vit. C) on such effect. Four groups of healthy volunteers underwent arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) to evaluate the local perfusion of the trigeminal nuclei after a vit. C-enriched lunch or a control lunch. Two ASL-MRI scans were acquired, respectively, before and after a 1 h-long masticating exercise or a 1 h long resting period. The results showed (i) an increased global perfusion of the brain in the vit. C-enriched lunch groups, (ii) an increased local perfusion of the right principal trigeminal nucleus (Vp) due to mastication, and (iii) a reduction of the rightward asymmetry of the Vp perfusion, due to mastication, after the vit C-enriched meal compared to the control meal. These results confirmed a long-lasting effect of prolonged mastication on Vp perfusion and also suggest a possible effect of vit. C on cerebral vascular tone regulation. Moreover, the data strongly draw attention on the side-to-side relation in Vp perfusion as a possible physiological parameter to be considered to understand the origin of pathological conditions like migraine.