The external carotid artery (ECA) plays a major role in supplying blood to the head and neck. Although impeded blood flow in the ECA is expected to affect orofacial functions, few studies have shown how blood flow obstruction in the ECA contributes to impairment of these functions, including chewing and swallowing. This study was performed to investigate the effects of ECA ligation (ECAL) on immediate and long-term changes in masticatory and swallowing functions as well as the jaw-opening reflex evoked in the digastric muscle. The experiments were carried out using male Sprague-Dawley rats. In the acute experiment, the digastric reflex evoked by low-threshold electrical stimulation of the inferior alveolar nerve and the swallow reflex, identified by digastric and thyrohyoid electromyographic (EMG) bursts, were compared between before and 1 h after ECAL. The chronic experiment was conducted on freely moving rats. EMGs of the masseter, digastric, and thyrohyoid muscles were chronically recorded. The long-term effects of ECAL on behavior and muscle histology were compared between rats with an intact ECA and rats with ECAL. In the acute experiment, the peak amplitude of the digastric reflex on the ECAL side was significantly decreased 1 h after ECAL. In the chronic experiment, although most parameters of the masticatory and swallowing EMGs were not significantly different between the groups, the results suggest wide variation of the effect of ECAL on the muscles. Blood supply compensation from collaterals of the internal carotid artery may be permanent in some animals.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The inhibitory effect of unilateral external carotid artery ligation (ECAL) on the ipsilateral digastric reflex was small but evident. Most parameters of masticatory and swallowing muscle activity were not significantly different after ECAL. Wide variation was noted in the effect of ECAL on the ipsilateral muscle activity. Blood supply compensation from collaterals of the internal carotid artery may occur in response to the impaired blood flow.
Keywords: digastric reflex; external carotid artery; mastication; rat; swallowing.