The aim of this study was to investigate whether under in vivo conditions, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation alters the excitability of Abeta-trigeminal root ganglion (TRG) neuronal activity innervating the facial skin by using extracellular electrophysiological recording with multibarrel-electrodes. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was injected into the rat TMJ. Threshold for escape from mechanical stimulation applied to the whisker pad area in inflamed rats (2 days) was significantly lower than that in control rats. A total of 36 Abeta-TRG neurons responding to electrical stimulation of the whisker pad was recorded in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. The number of Abeta-TRG neurons with spontaneous firings and their firing rate in TMJ inflamed rats were significantly larger than those in control rats. The firing rates of their spontaneous activity in the Abeta-TRG neurons were current-dependently decreased by local iontophoretic application of an NK1 receptor antagonist (L-703,606) in inflamed, but not non-inflamed rats. Their spontaneous activities were current-dependently increased by local iontophoretic application of substance P (SP) in control and inflamed rats. The mechanical response threshold of Abeta-TRG neurons in inflamed rats was significantly lower than that in control rats. The mechanical response threshold in inflamed rats after iontophoretic application of L-703,606 was not different from that in control rats. These results suggest that TMJ inflammation modulate the excitability of Abeta-TRG neurons innervating the facial skin via paracrine mechanism due to SP released from TRG neuronal cell body. Such a SP release may play an important role in determining the trigeminal inflammatory allodynia concerning the temporomandibular disorder.