生理学分野は、1944年に組織された「生理学教室」に端を発し、70年以上の歴史を持つ。初代である末長一男教授から緒方大象教授、瀬尾愛三郎教授、野代平治教授、中原敏教授、稲永清敏教授を経て現在に至る。
　生理学とは細胞から人体に至るまでの機能を論理的に追求する学問であり、医歯学を包括的に理解する上で基礎となる。歯学科学生１・2年次に対して統合型講義の中と生理学実習で教授している。統合型講義は、解剖学・生理学・分子情報生化学が共同して行っており、臓器・機能別で科目が分けられた九歯大独自の講義形態である。研究は「口腔顔面痛」および「喉の渇き」の２つについて行っており、多くの分野外研究室と学外研究機関との共同研究により学際的な研究を展開している。最近は、がん化学療法中に発症する重篤潰瘍性口内炎（国立がん研究センターとの共同研究）ならびに歯科矯正中に頻発する外傷性口内炎（顎口腔機能矯正学分野との共同研究）における疼痛メカニズムの解明、漢方薬「半夏瀉心湯」の口内炎疼痛抑制メカニズムの成分レベルでの解析（株式会社ツムラとの共同研究）、アルコール摂取後の喉の渇き誘発メカニズム（産業医科大学との共同研究）について報告している。

[原著論文]

2018

・Nodai T, Hitomi S, Ono K, Masaki C, Harano N, Morii A, Sago-Ito M, Ujihara I, Hibino T, Terawaki K, Omiya Y, Hosokawa R, Inenaga K.:Endothelin-1 Elicits TRP-Mediated Pain in an Acid-Induced Oral Ulcer Model. J Dent Res. 2018. In press.

・Nishimura S, Tanaka T, Oda M, Habu M, Kodama M, Yoshiga D, Osawa K, Kokuryo S, Miyamoto I, Kito S, Wakasugi-Sato N, Matsumoto-Takeda S, Joujima T, Miyamura Y, Hitomi S, Yamamoto N, Uehara M, Sasaguri M, Ono K, Yoshioka I, Tominaga K, Morimoto Y.: Functional evaluation of swallowing in patients with tongue cancer before and after surgery using high-speed continuous magnetic resonance imaging based on T2-weighted sequences. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. Jan;125(1):88-98, 2018.

2017

・Ito, M., Ono, K., Hitomi, S., Nodai, T., Sago, T., Yamaguchi, K., Harano, N., Gunnjigake, K., Hosokawa, R., Kawamoto, T., Inenaga, K.: Prostanoid-dependent spontaneous pain and PAR2-dependent mechanical allodynia following oral mucosal trauma: involvement of TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPV4. Mol Pain. 13:1744806917704138, 2017.

・Hitomi, S., Ono, K., Terawaki, K., Matsumoto, C., Mizuno, K., Yamaguchi, K., Imai, R., Omiya, Y., Hattori, T., Kase, Y., Inenaga, K.: [6]-gingerol and [6]-shogaol, active ingredients of the traditional Japanese medicine hangeshashinto, relief oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain via action on Na⁺ channels. Pharmacol Res. 117: 288-302, 2017.

・Ono K, Viet CT, Ye Y, Dang D, Hitomi S, Toyono T, Inenaga K, Dolan JC, Schmidt BL.: Cutaneous pigmentation modulates skin sensitivity via tyrosinase-dependent dopaminergic signalling. Sci Rep. 23;7(1):9181, 2017.

・Ye Y, Bernabé DG, Salvo E, Viet CT, Ono K, Dolan JC, Janal M, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C, Schmidt BL.: Alterations in opioid inhibition cause widespread nociception but do not affect anxiety-like behavior in oral cancer mice. Neuroscience. 5;363:50-61, 2017.

・Viet CT, Dang D, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C, Ye Y, Viet DT, Ono K, Schmidt BL.:OPRM1 Methylation Contributes to Opioid Tolerance in Cancer Patients. J Pain. 18(9):1046-1059, 2017.

・Hitomi, S., Okada-Ogawa, A., Sato, Y., Shibuta-Suzuki, I., Shinoda, M., Imamura, Y., Ono, K., Iwata, K.: Enhancement of ERK phosphorylation and photic responses in Vc/C1 neurons of a migraine model. Neurosci Lett. 24;647:14-19, 2017.

・Hitomi, S., Kross, K., Kurose, M., Porreca, F., Meng, I.D.: Activation of dura-sensitive trigeminal neurons and increased c-Fos protein induced by morphine withdrawal in the rostral ventromedial medulla. Cephalalgia. 37(5):407-417, 2017.

・Kokabu S, Nakatomi C, Matsubara T, Ono Y, Addison WN, Lowery JW, Urata M, Hudnall AM, Hitomi S, Nakatomi M, Sato T, Osawa K, Yoda T, Rosen V, Jimi E.: The transcriptional co-repressor TLE3 regulates myogenic differentiation by repressing the activity of the MyoD transcription factor. J Biol Chem. 4;292(31):12885-12894, 2017.

2016

・Hitomi, S., Ono, K., Yamaguchi, K., Terawaki, K., Imai, R., Kubota, K., Omiya, Y., Hattori, T., Kase, Y. and Inenaga, K.: The traditional Japanese medicine hangeshashinto alleviates oral ulcer-induced pain in a rat model. Arch. Oral Biol. 66: 30-37, 2016.

・Yamaguchi, K., Ono, K., Hitomi, S., Ito, M., Nodai, T., Goto, T., Harano, N., Watanabe, S., Inoue, H.，Miyano,K., Uezono, Y., Matoba, M. and Inenaga, K.: Distinct TRPV1- and TRPA1-based mechanisms underlying enhancement of oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain by 5-fluorouracil. Pain. 157(5):1004-20, 2016.

2015

・Ujihara, I., Hitomi, S., Ono, K., Kakinoki, Y., Hashimoto, H., Ueta, Y. and Inenaga, K.: The ethanol metabolite acetaldehyde induces water and salt intake via two distinct pathways in the central nervous system of rats. Neuropharmacology. 99: 589-599, 2015.

・Inenaga K, Inagaki T, Kuroki A, Hitomi S, Ono K, Hosokawa R. Parotid Saliva Secretion by Mechanical Stimulation is Site-Specific in the Oral Cavity in Human Subjects. Aperito J Oral Health Dent. 1:4, 2015.

・Hitomi, S., Ono, K., Miyano, K., Ota, Y., Uezono, Y., Matoba, M., Kuramitsu, S., Yamaguchi, K., Matsuo, K., Seta, Y., Harano, N., Inenaga, K.: Novel methods of applying direct chemical and mechanical stimulation to the oral mucosa for traditional behavioral pain assays in conscious rats. J Neurosci Methods. 239 162–169, 2015.

・Ono K, Ye Y, Viet CT, Dang D, Schmidt BL.: TRPV1 expression level in isolectin B₄-positive neurons contributes to mouse strain difference in cutaneous thermal nociceptive sensitivity. J Neurophysiol. 1;113(9):3345-55, 2015.

・Kokabu S, Lowery JW, Toyono T, Seta Y, Hitomi S, Sato T, Enoki Y, Okubo M, Fukushima Y, Yoda T.: Muscle regulatory factors regulate T1R3 taste receptor expression. BBRC. 468(4):568-73, 2015.

2014

・Nakamura-Kiyama M, Ono K, Masuda W, Hitomi S, Matsuo K, Usui M, Nakashima K, Yokota M, Inenaga K.: Changes of salivary functions in experimental periodontitis model rats. Arch Oral Biol. 59: 125-132, 2014.

・Viet CT, Dang D, Ye Y, Ono K, Campbell RR, Schmidt BL.: Demethylating drugs as novel analgesics for cancer pain. Clin Cancer Res. 15;20(18):4882-4893. 2014.

・Ye Y, Ono K, Bernabé DG, Viet CT, Pickering V, Dolan JC, Hardt M, Ford AP, Schmidt BL. Adenosine triphosphate drives head and neck cancer pain through P2X2/3 heterotrimers. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 5;2:62, 2014.

・Shiiba S, Tanaka T, Sakamoto E, Oda M, Kito S, Ono K, Wakasugi-Sato N, Matsumoto-Takeda S, Seta Y, Imamura Y, Nakanishi O, Inenaga K, Morimoto Y.: Can the neurovascular compression volume of the trigeminal nerve on magnetic resonance cisternography predict the success of local anesthetic block after initial treatment by the carbamazepine? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 117(1):e15-21, 2014.

2013

・Yamamoto T, Ono K, Hitomi S, Harano N, Sago T, Yoshida M, Nunomaki M, Shiiba S, Watanabe S, Nakanishi O, Inenaga K. : Endothelin Receptor-mediated Responses in Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons. J Dent Res. 92(4):335-9, 2013.

・Teramoto K, Tsuboi Y, Shinoda M, Hitomi S, Abe K, Kaji K, Tamagawa T, Suzuki A, Noma N, Kobayashi M, Komiyama O, Urata K, Iwata K.: Changes in expression of growth-associated protein-43 in trigeminal ganglion neurons and of the jaw opening reflex following inferior alveolar nerve transection in rats. Eur J Oral Sci. 121(2):86-91, 2013.

2012

・Ono K, Xu S, Hitomi S, Inenaga K.: Comparison of the electrophysiological and immunohistochemical properties of acutely dissociated and 1-day cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons. Neurosci let. 523:162-166, 2012.

・Sago T, Ono K, Harano N, Furuta-Hidaka K, Hitomi S, Nunomaki M, Yoshida M, Shiiba S, Nakanishi O, Matsuo K, Inenaga K.: Distinct time courses of microglial and astrocytic hyperactivation and the glial contribution to pain hypersensitivity in a facial cancer model. Brain Res. 1457:70-80, 2012.
 

・Miyahara N, Ono K, Hitomi S, Hirase M, Inenaga K.: Dopamine modulates neuronal excitability pre- and post-synaptically in the rat subfornical organ. Brain Res. 1447:44-52, 2012.

・Ono K, Harano N, Inenaga K, Nakanishi O.: A rat pain model of facial cancer. Methods Mol Biol. 851:149-57, 2012.

・Ono K, Inagaki T, Iida T, Wakasugi-Sato N, Hosokawa R, Inenaga K.: Distinct effects of cevimeline and pilocarpine on salivary mechanisms, cardiovascular response and thirst sensation in rats. Arch Oral Biol. 57(4):421-8, 2012.

・Hitomi S, Shinoda M, Suzuki I, Iwata K.: Involvement of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 in ectopic pain following inferior alveolar nerve transection in rats. Neurosci let. 513:95-99, 2012.

［総　説］

・Inenaga, K., Ono, K., Hitomi, S., Kuroki, A., Ujihara, I.: Thirst sensation and oral dryness following alcohol intake. Japanese Dent Sci Review. 2017.