Lateral hypothalamic-induced antinociception may be mediated by a substance P connection with the rostral ventromedial medulla

A septo-hypothalamic-medullary circuit directs stress-induced analgesia

Stress is a potent modulator of pain. Specifically, acute stress due to physical restraint induces stress-induced analgesia (SIA). However, where and how acute stress and pain pathways interface in the brain are poorly understood. Here, we describe how the dorsal lateral septum (dLS), a forebrain limbic nucleus, facilitates SIA through its downstream targets in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) of mice. Taking advantage of transsynaptic viral-genetic, optogenetic, and chemogenetic techniques, we show that the dLS→LHA circuitry is sufficient to drive analgesia and is required for SIA. Furthermore, our results reveal that the dLS→LHA pathway is opioid-dependent and modulates pain through the pro-nociceptive neurons in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Remarkably, we found that the inhibitory dLS neurons are recruited specifically when the mice struggle to escape under restraint and, in turn, inhibit excitatory LHA neurons. As a result, the RVM neurons downstream of LHA are disengaged, thus suppressing nociception. Together, we delineate a poly-synaptic pathway that can transform escape behavior in mice under restraint to acute stress into analgesia.

The opposite roles of orexin neurons in pain and itch neural processing

Pain and itch are antagonistically regulated sensations; pain suppresses itch, and inhibition of pain enhances itch. Understanding the central neural circuit of antagonistic regulation between pain and itch is required to develop new therapeutics better to manage these two feelings in a clinical situation. However, evidence of the neural mechanism underlying the pain-itch interaction in the central nervous system (CNS) is still insufficient. To pave the way for this research area, our laboratory has focused on orexin (ORX) producing neurons in the hypothalamus, which is known as a master switch that induces various defense responses when animals face a stressful environment. This review article summarized the previous evidence and our latest findings to argue the neural regulation between pain and itch and the bidirectional roles of ORX neurons in processing these two sensations. i.e., pain relief and itch exacerbation. Further, we discussed the possible neural circuit mechanism for the opposite controlling of pain and itch by ORX neurons. Focusing on the roles of ORX neurons would provide a new perspective to understand the antagonistic regulation of pain and itch in CNS.

Hypothalamic orexinergic neurons modulate pain and itch in an opposite way: pain relief and itch exacerbation

Pain and itch are recognized as antagonistic sensations; pain suppresses itch and inhibition of pain generates itch. There is still a lack of evidence about the neural mechanism of the interaction between pain and itch in the central nervous system. In this study, we focused on the orexin (ORX) neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), which mediate various "defense responses" when animals confront stressors. We found that the scratching behaviors induced by the pruritogen were significantly suppressed in ORX-neuron-ablated (ORX-abl) mice. The exaggerated pain behavior and attenuated itch behavior observed in ORX-abl mice indicated that ORX neurons modulate pain and itch in an opposite way, i.e., pain relief and itch exacerbation. In addition, most of the ORX neurons responded to both pain and itch input. Our results suggest that ORX neurons inversely regulate pain- and itch-related behaviors, which could be understood as a defense response to cope with stress environment.

Inhibition of itch by neurokinin 1 receptor (Tacr1) -expressing ON cells in the rostral ventromedial medulla in mice

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is important in descending modulation of spinal nociceptive transmission, but it is unclear if the RVM also modulates spinal pruriceptive transmission. RVM ON cells are activated by noxious algesic and pruritic stimuli and are pronociceptive. Many RVM-spinal projection neurons express the neurokinin-1 receptor (Tacr1), and ON-cells are excited by local administration of substance P (SP). We hypothesized that Tacr1-expressing RVM ON cells exert an inhibitory effect on itch opposite to their pronociceptive action. Intramedullary microinjection of SP significantly potentiated RVM ON cells and reduced pruritogen-evoked scratching while producing mild mechanical sensitization. Chemogenetic activation of RVM Tacr1-expressing RVM neurons also reduced acute pruritogen-evoked scratching. Optotagging experiments confirmed RVM Tacr1-expressing neurons to be ON cells. We conclude that Tacr1-expressing ON cells in RVM play a significant role in the modulation of pruriceptive transmission.

Orexin-2 receptor antagonism in the cornu ammonis 1 region of hippocampus prevented the antinociceptive responses induced by chemical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus in the animal model of persistent pain

Orexins are excitatory neuropeptides, mainly produced by neurons located in the lateral hypothalamus, which project to many brain areas. The orexinergic system plays a fundamental role in arousal, sleep/wakefulness, feeding, energy homeostasis, motivation, reward, stress and pain modulation. As a prominent part of the limbic system, the hippocampus has been involved in formalin-induced nociception modulation. Moreover, hippocampus regions express both orexin-1 (OX1) and orexin-2 (OX2) receptors. The present study investigated the role of OX2 receptors (OX2R) within the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region of the hippocampus in the mediation of lateral hypothalamus-induced antinociception. Fifty-three male Wistar rats were unilaterally implanted with two separate cannulae into the lateral hypothalamus and CA1. Animals were pretreated with intra-CA1 TCS OX2 29 as an OX2R antagonist before intra-lateral hypothalamus administration of carbachol (250 nM) as a muscarinic agonist for chemical stimulation of orexinergic neurons. Formalin test was used as an animal model of persistent pain, following intra-lateral hypothalamus carbachol microinjection. Results showed that the chemical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus significantly attenuated formalin-evoked nociceptive behaviors during both phases of the formalin test, and administration of TCS OX2 29 into the CA1 blocked these antinociceptive responses in both phases, especially in the late phase. These findings suggest that OX2 receptors in the CA1 partially mediate the lateral hypothalamus-induced antinociceptive responses in persistent inflammatory pain.

Corticotropin-releasing factor neurotransmission in the lateral hypothalamus modulates the tachycardiac response during acute emotional stress in rats

The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is implicated in the physiological and behavioral responses during stressful events. However, the local neurochemical mechanisms related to control of stress responses by this hypothalamic area are not completely understood. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the involvement of CRFergic neurotransmission acting through the CRF₁ receptor within the LH in cardiovascular responses evoked by an acute session of restraint stress in rats. For this, we investigated the effect of bilateral microinjection of different doses (0.01, 0.1 and 1 nmol/100 nL) of the selective CRF₁ receptor antagonist CP376395 into the LH on arterial pressure and heart rate increases and decrease in tail skin temperature evoked by acute restraint stress. We found that all doses of the CRF₁ receptor antagonist microinjected into the LH decreased the restraint-evoked tachycardia, but without affecting the arterial pressure and tail skin temperature responses. Additionally, treatment of the LH with CP376395 at the doses of 0.1 and 1 nmol/100 nL increased the basal values of both heart rate and arterial pressure, whereas the dose of 0.1 nmol/100 nL decreased the skin temperature. Taken together, these findings indicate that CRFergic neurotransmission in the LH, acting through activation of local CRF₁ receptors, plays a facilitatory role in the tachycardia observed during aversive threats, but without affecting the pressor and tail skin temperature responses. Our results also provide evidence that LH CRFergic neurotransmission in involved in tonic maintenance of cardiovascular function.

Role of Dopaminergic Receptors Within the Ventral Tegmental Area in Antinociception Induced by Chemical Stimulation of the Lateral Hypothalamus in an Animal Model of Orofacial Pain

Introduction

The ventral tegmental area (VTA), as one of the classical components of the brain reward circuitry, shares large neural networks with the pain processing system. We previously showed the role of VTA dopamine receptors in modulation of lateral hypothalamus (LH)-induced antinociception in acute pain conditions. However, considering the fact that the neural systems involved in the mediation of tonic pain are not the same as those that mediate phasic pain. In the present study, we aimed to examine the role of intra-VTA dopamine receptors in LH-induced antinociceptive responses during tonic orofacial pain conditions.

Methods

Male Wistar rats weighing 230-250 g were implanted with two separate cannulae into the LH and VTA on the same side. Different solutions of carbachol (62.5, 125 and 250 nM), as a non-selective cholinergic receptor agonist that activates the LH projecting neurons, were microinjected into the LH. In the other groups, D1-like dopamine receptor antagonist, SCH-23390 (0.25, 1 and 4 µg/03 µL saline) or D2-like dopamine receptor antagonist, Sulpiride (0.25, 1 and 4 µg/0.3 µL DMSO 12%) were microinjected into VTA, 5 min prior intra-LH carbachol (250 nM), then subjected to orofacial formalin test. Intra-LH carbachol microinjection dose-dependently attenuated biphasic orofacial pain.

Results

Intra-VTA administration of SCH-23390 or Sulpiride dose-dependently decreased intra-LH carbachol-induced antinociception during both phases of orofacial formalin test with further effects in the late phase.

Discussion

The findings suggest that chemical stimulation of the LH by carbachol possibly activates the orexin projecting neurons and subsequently, the VTA dopaminergic neurons involved in the orofacial pain modulation. Detecting such neural circuitry offers an alternative approach in the development of more efficient therapies for such debilitating pain conditions.

The Lateral Hypothalamus: An Uncharted Territory for Processing Peripheral Neurogenic Inflammation

The roles of the hypothalamus and particularly the lateral hypothalamus (LH) in the regulation of inflammation and pain have been widely studied. The LH consists of a parasympathetic area that has connections with all the major parts of the brain. It controls the autonomic nervous system (ANS), regulates feeding behavior and wakeful cycles, and is a part of the reward system. In addition, it contains different types of neurons, most importantly the orexin neurons. These neurons, though few in number, perform critical functions such as inhibiting pain transmission and interfering with the reward system, feeding behavior and the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA). Recent evidence has identified a new role for orexin neurons in the modulation of pain transmission associated with several inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Here, we review recent findings on the various physiological functions of the LH with special emphasis on the orexin/receptor system and its role in mediating inflammatory pain.

Neuropeptide S-initiated sequential cascade mediated by OX1, NK1, mGlu5 and CB1 receptors: a pivotal role in stress-induced analgesia

Background

Stress-induced analgesia (SIA) is an evolutionarily conserved phenomenon during stress. Neuropeptide S (NPS), orexins, substance P, glutamate and endocannabinoids are known to be involved in stress and/or SIA, however their causal links remain unclear. Here, we reveal an unprecedented sequential cascade involving these mediators in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) using a restraint stress-induced SIA model.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice of 8–12 week-old were subjected to intra-cerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and/or intra-vlPAG (i.pag.) microinjection of NPS, orexin-A or substance P alone or in combination with selective antagonists of NPS receptors (NPSRs), OX₁ receptors (OX₁Rs), NK₁ receptors (NK₁Rs), mGlu₅ receptors (mGlu₅Rs) and CB₁ receptors (CB₁Rs), respectively. Antinociceptive effects of these mediators were evaluated via the hot-plate test. SIA in mice was induced by a 30-min restraint stress. NPS levels in the LH and substance P levels in vlPAG homogenates were compared in restrained and unrestrained mice.

Results

NPS (i.c.v., but not i.pag.) induced antinociception. This effect was prevented by i.c.v. blockade of NPSRs. Substance P (i.pag.) and orexin-A (i.pag.) also induced antinociception. Substance P (i.pag.)-induced antinociception was prevented by i.pag. Blockade of NK₁Rs, mGlu₅Rs or CB₁Rs. Orexin-A (i.pag.)-induced antinociception has been shown previously to be prevented by i.pag. blockade of OX₁Rs or CB₁Rs, and here was prevented by NK₁R or mGlu₅R antagonist (i.pag.). NPS (i.c.v.)-induced antinociception was prevented by i.pag. blockade of OX₁Rs, NK₁Rs, mGlu₅Rs or CB₁Rs. SIA has been previously shown to be prevented by i.pag. blockade of OX₁Rs or CB₁Rs. Here, we found that SIA was also prevented by i.c.v. blockade of NPSRs or i.pag. blockade of NK₁Rs or mGlu₅Rs. Restrained mice had higher levels of NPS in the LH and substance P in the vlPAG than unrestrained mice.

Conclusions

These results suggest that, during stress, NPS is released and activates LH orexin neurons via NPSRs, releasing orexins in the vlPAG. Orexins then activate OX₁Rs on substance P-containing neurons in the vlPAG to release substance P that subsequently. Activates NK₁Rs on glutamatergic neurons to release glutamate. Glutamate then activates perisynaptic mGlu₅Rs to initiate the endocannabinoid retrograde inhibition of GABAergic transmission in the vlPAG, leading to analgesia.

Pain condition and sex differences in the descending noradrenergic system following lateral hypothalamic stimulation

•

LH stimulation produced pronociceptive and antinociceptive effects from alpha-adrenoceptors in naïve male and female rats.

•

LH stimulation produced pronociceptive and antinociceptive effects from alpha-adrenoceptors in male CCI rats.

•

LH stimulation produced alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated pronociception, but not antinociception in female CCI rats.

The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is known to modulate nociception via the descending noradrenergic system in acute nociception, but less is known about its role in neuropathic pain states. In naïve females, LH stimulation produces opposing effects of α-adrenoceptors, with α₂-adrenoceptors mediating antinociception, while pronociceptive α₁-adrenoceptors attenuate the effect. Whether this opposing response is seen in neuropathic conditions or in naïve males is unknown. We used a mixed factorial design to compare male and female rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) to naïve rats, measured by Total Paw Withdrawal (TPW) responses to a thermal stimulus. Rats received one of three doses of carbachol to stimulate the LH followed by intrathecal injection of either an α₁- or an α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist (WB4101 or yohimbine, resp.) or saline for control. Overall, naïve rats showed a more pronounced opposing alpha-adrenergic response than CCI rats (p < 0.04). Naïve male and female rats demonstrated antinociception following α₁-adrenoceptor blockade and hyperalgesia following α₂-adrenoceptor blockade. Male CCI rats also showed dose dependent effects from either WB4101 or yohimbine (p < 0.05), while female CCI rats had significant antinociception from WB4101 (p < 0.05), but no effect from yohimbine. These results support the idea that peripheral nerve damage differentially alters the descending noradrenergic modulatory system in male and female rats, and notably, that female CCI rats do not show antinociception from descending noradrenergic input. These findings are suggestive that clinical therapies that recruit the descending noradrenergic system may require a different approach based on patient gender.

Connectome verification: inter-rater and connection reliability of tract-tracing-based intrinsic hypothalamic connectivity

MOTIVATION

Structural connectomics supports understanding aspects of neuronal dynamics and brain functions. Conducting metastudies of tract-tracing publications is one option to generate connectome databases by collating neuronal connectivity data. Meanwhile, it is a common practice that the neuronal connections and their attributes of such retrospective data collations are extracted from tract-tracing publications manually by experts. As the description of tract-tracing results is often not clear-cut and the documentation of interregional connections is not standardized, the extraction of connectivity data from tract-tracing publications could be complex. This might entail that different experts interpret such non-standardized descriptions of neuronal connections from the same publication in variable ways. Hitherto, no investigation is available that determines the variability of extracted connectivity information from original tract-tracing publications. A relatively large variability of connectivity information could produce significant misconstructions of adjacency matrices with faults in network and graph analyzes. The objective of this study is to investigate the inter-rater and inter-observation variability of tract-tracing-based documentations of neuronal connections. To demonstrate the variability of neuronal connections, data of 16 publications which describe neuronal connections of subregions of the hypothalamus have been assessed by way of example.

RESULTS

A workflow is proposed that allows detecting variability of connectivity at different steps of data processing in connectome metastudies. Variability between three blinded experts was found by comparing the connection information in a sample of 16 publications that describe tract-tracing-based neuronal connections in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, observation scores, matrix visualizations of discrepant connections and weight variations in adjacency matrices are analyzed.

AVAILABILITY

The resulting data and software are available at http://neuroviisas.med.uni-rostock.de/neuroviisas.shtml.

Blockade of the orexin receptors in the CA1 region of hippocampus decreased the lateral hypothalamic-induced antinociceptive responses in the model of orofacial formalin test in the rats

The role of hippocampus and lateral hypothalamus (LH) in modulation of formalin-induced nociception has been established. The present study aims to examine the role of orexin receptors in the Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) region of hippocampus in modulation of the LH-induced antinociception in the orofacial formalin test. Male Wistar rats were unilaterally implanted with two cannulae into the LH and CA1. Intra-LH microinjection of carbachol was done 5min after intra-CA1 administration of SB-334867 (OX1R antagonist) or TCS OX2 29 (OX2R antagonist). After 5min, 50μl of 1% formalin was subcutaneously injected into the upper lip for inducing the nociceptive behaviors. Solely intra-LH administration of carbachol reduced early and late phases of formalin-induced orofacial nociception in a dose-dependent manner. The antinociception evoked by intra-LH injection of carbachol (0.5μl of 250nM carbachol) was antagonized by intra-CA1 administration of 0.5μl of 3, 10 and 30nM solutions of SB-334867 or TCS OX2 29 during the early and late phases of orofacial formalin test. This effect was more remarkable during the late phase in comparison to the early phase. In addition, anti-analgesic effect of SB-334867 was more than TCS OX2 29 during the early and late phases. The results suggest the interpretation that a neural pathway from the LH to the CA1 probably contributes to the modulation of formalin-induced orofacial nociception through recruitment of both CA1 orexin receptors. Clinical studies are recommended to study the probable effectiveness of orexinergic system in modulation of the orofacial nociceptive responses.

Role of orexin-2 receptors in the nucleus accumbens in antinociception induced by carbachol stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus in formalin test

Orexins, which are mainly produced by orexin-expressing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), play an important role in pain modulation. Previously, it has been established that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is involved in the modulation of formalin-induced nociceptive responses, a model of tonic pain. In this study, the role of intra-accumbal orexin-2 receptors (OX2rs) in the mediation of formalin-induced pain was investigated. A volume of 0.5 μl of 10, 20, and 40 nmol/l solutions of TCS OX2 29, an OX2r antagonist, were unilaterally microinjected into the NAc 5 min before an intra-LH carbachol microinjection (0.5 μl of 250 nmol/l solution). After 5 min, animals received a subcutaneous injection of formalin 2.5% (50 μl) into the hind paw. Pain-related behaviors were assessed at 5 min intervals during a 60-min test period. The findings showed that TCS OX2 29 administration dose dependently blocked carbachol-induced antinociception during both phases of formalin-induced pain. The antianalgesic effect of TCS OX2 29 was greater during the late phase compared with the early phase. These observations suggest that the NAc, as a part of a descending pain-modulatory circuitry, partially mediates LH-induced analgesia in the formalin test through recruitment of OX2rs. This makes the orexinergic system a good potential therapeutic target in the control of persistent inflammatory pain.

Differences in carbachol dose, pain condition, and sex following lateral hypothalamic stimulation

Lateral hypothalamic (LH) stimulation produces antinociception in female rats in acute, nociceptive pain. Whether this effect occurs in neuropathic pain or whether male-female sex differences exist is unknown. We examined the effect of LH stimulation in male and female rats using conditions of nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Neuropathic groups received chronic constriction injury (CCI) to induce thermal hyperalgesia, a sign of neuropathic pain. Nociceptive rats were naive for CCI, but received the same thermal stimulus following LH stimulation. To demonstrate that CCI ligation produced thermal hyperalgesia, males and females received either ligation or sham surgery for control. Both males and females demonstrated significant thermal hyperalgesia following CCI ligation (p<0.05), but male sham surgery rats also showed a significant left-right difference not present in female sham rats. In the second experiment, rats randomly assigned to CCI or nociceptive groups were given one of three doses of the cholinergic agonist carbachol (125, 250, or 500 nmol) or normal saline for control, microinjected into the left LH. Paw withdrawal from a thermal stimulus (paw withdrawal latency; PWL) was measured every 5 min for 45 min. Linear mixed models analysis showed that males and females in both pain conditions demonstrated significant antinociception, with the 500-nmol dose producing the greatest effect across groups compared with controls for the left paw (p<0.05). Female CCI rats showed equivalent responses to the three doses, while male CCI rats showed more variability for dose. However, nociceptive females responded only to the 500-nmol dose, while nociceptive males responded to all doses (p<0.05). For right PWL, only nociceptive males showed a significant carbachol dose response. These findings are suggestive that LH stimulation produces antinociception in male and female rats in both nociceptive and neuropathic pain, but dose response differences exist based on sex and pain condition.

Blockade of substance P receptor attenuates osteoporotic pain, but not bone loss, in ovariectomized mice

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a substance P (SP) receptor (NK1 receptor [NK1-R]) antagonist on hyperalgesia and bone metabolism in ovariectomized mice.

METHODS

Thirty-six 9-week-old mice were subjected to either bilateral ovariectomy or sham surgery. Three weeks after the operation, the mice were treated with either a single-dose injection or 2-week repeated daily administration of L-703606, an NK1-R antagonist. Behavioral tests were performed for pain assessment; tibiae and the third lumbar vertebrae were dissected and assessed for microarchitectural or biomechanical properties. The expressions of SP and NK1-R in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Both single-dose injection and 2-week repeated injections of L-703606 led to a significant increase in nociceptive threshold in ovariectomized mice. However, the antihyperalgesic effect faded at 2 hours and almost disappeared at 5 hours after a single-dose injection. With the 14-day repeated treatment of ovariectomized mice, the effect was not detectable at 24 hours after the first injection but was obvious at 24 hours after 1-week and 2-week administrations and still existed at 48 hours after the last injection. Ovariectomized mice at the hyperalgesic state had enhanced SP immunoreactivity in the dorsal root ganglia and up-regulated SP and NK1-R expressions in the spinal cord. However, no significant change in serum SP level was detected. Two-week treatment with L-703606 could down-regulate these expressions but failed to salvage the deteriorated trabecular microstructure and reduced compressive strength in ovariectomized mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Estrogen deficiency-induced hyperalgesia is achieved through up-regulation of SP and NK1-R expressions. Blockade of SP receptor can alleviate pain but cannot ameliorate bone loss. NK1-R antagonist is not recommended for the treatment of estrogen deficiency osteoporosis.

Orexin receptor type-1 antagonist SB-334867 decreases morphine-induced antinociceptive effect in formalin test

Orexin-A and orexin-B are two neuropeptides selectively synthesized in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), a region involved in morphine induced analgesia and pain modulation. Furthermore, orexin-A has been reported to produce an analgesic effect in pain models, which was blocked by orexin-1 receptor antagonist SB-334867, but not naloxone. We studied the effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of SB-334867, a selective orexin receptor type-1 antagonist, on morphine-induced antinociceptive effect in formalin test in rats. Morphine injection at a dose of 1.5mg/kg caused a significant decrease in the formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors in phase 1, interphase, and phase 2A, whereas at doses of 3, 6, and 10mg/kg, a significant reduction in the formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors was observed in all phases. The ICV injection of SB-334867 alone had no effect on the formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors. Pre-treatment with SB-334867 at a dose of 0.5 nmol significantly attenuated the analgesia induced by morphine (at dose 1.5mg/kg of morphine; interphase and phase 2B and at dose 3mg/kg of morphine just phase 2B of formalin test). Also, pre-treatment with SB-334867 at a dose of 5 nmol considerably attenuated the morphine-induced analgesia (at dose 1.5mg/kg of morphine; phase 1, interphase, and phase 2, at dose 3 and 6 mg/kg of morphine just phase 2 of formalin test). Pre-treatment with SB-334867 at a dose of 50 nmol remarkably attenuated the morphine-induced analgesia (at dose 1.5 and 3mg/kg of morphine; in phase 1, interphase, and phase 2 and also at dose 6 mg/kg of morphine; phase 1 and phase 2B of formalin test). These data suggest that the antinociceptive effects of morphine in formalin test might be associated with orexin receptor type-1. Our findings reveal a new role for the lateral hypothalamus orexin neurons in the morphine-induced analgesia.

Intra-paragigantocellularis lateralis injection of orexin-A has an antinociceptive effect on hot plate and formalin tests in rat

In the present study, the effect of orexin-A (ORXA) microinjection into the paragigantocellularis lateralis (LPGI) on nociceptive behaviors, using hot-plate and formalin tests as thermal and chemical models of pain in rat, was examined. Also, we determined whether the pretreatment with SB-334867, a selective OX1-receptor antagonist, would prevent the antinociceptive effect of orexin-A. ORXA (0.1-100 nM/0.5 μL) microinjected into the LPGi nucleus, dose-dependently decreased the formalin induced nociceptive behaviors and also produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in the hot-plate test. Pretreatment with a selective orexin receptor 1 (OX1R) antagonist, SB-334867, also inhibited the effect of ORXA on formalin induced nociceptive behaviors while the SB-334867 (100 μM) alone had no effect on formalin test. These data demonstrated that the ORXA-induced antinociception in formalin test is mainly mediated through the OX1R in LPGi which might play a potential role in processing the pain information associated with descending pain modulation.

Inhibition of spinal cord dorsal horn neuronal activity by electrical stimulation of the cerebellar cortex

The cerebellum plays a major role in not only modulating motor activity, but also contributing to other functions, including nociception. The intermediate hemisphere of the cerebellum receives sensory input from the limbs. With the extensive connection between the cerebellum to brain-stem structures and cerebral cortex, it is possible that the cerebellum may facilitate the descending system to modulate spinal dorsal horn activity. This study provided the first evidence to support this hypothesis. Thirty-one wide-dynamic-range neurons from the left lumbar and 27 from the right lumbar spinal dorsal horn were recorded in response to graded mechanical stimulation (brush, pressure, and pinch) at the hind paws. Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar cortex of the left intermediate hemisphere significantly reduced spinal cord dorsal horn neuron-evoked responses bilaterally in response to peripheral high-intensity mechanical stimuli. It is concluded that the cerebellum may play a potential antinociceptive role, probably through activating descending inhibitory pathways indirectly.

Involvement of descending facilitation from the rostral ventromedial medulla in the enhancement of formalin-evoked nocifensive behavior following repeated forced swim stress

In the present study we examined whether the descending facilitation from the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is required for the enhancement of formalin-evoked nocifensive behavior following repeated forced swim stress. Rats were subjected to forced or sham swim stress for 3days. Withdrawal latency to noxious thermal stimuli and mechanical withdrawal threshold to von Frey filaments did not change significantly in both groups at 24h after the last stress session. The forced swim stress showed significantly enhanced nocifensive behavior to the subcutaneous administration of formalin at 2days after the last stress session (1330.1+/-62.8s), compared to the sham swim (1076+/-102.4s, p<0.05) and naive groups (825.9+/-83.2s, p<0.01). The destruction of the RVM with ibotenic acid led to prevent the enhancement of formalin-evoked nocifensive behavior in the forced swim group. These findings suggest that the descending facilitation from the RVM may be involved in the enhancement of formalin-evoked nocifensive behavior following the forced swim stress.

Effects of neurokinin-1 receptor agonism and antagonism in the rostral ventromedial medulla of rats with acute or persistent inflammatory nociception

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), a central relay in the bulbospinal pathways that modulate nociception, contains high concentrations of substance P (Sub P) and neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors. However, the function of Sub P in the RVM is poorly understood. This study characterized the actions of Sub P in the RVM in the absence of injury and then used two NK1 receptor antagonists, L-733,060 and L-703, 606, to probe the role of endogenously released Sub P in the development and maintenance of persistent inflammatory nociception of immune or neurogenic origin. In uninjured rats, microinjection of Sub P in the RVM produced a transient thermal antinociception that was attenuated by pretreatment with L-733,060 or L-703,606. It did not alter threshold to withdrawal from tactile stimulation with von Frey filaments. Microinjection of the antagonists alone did not alter paw withdrawal latency (PWL) or threshold suggesting that Sub P is not tonically released in the RVM in the absence of injury. However, microinjection of either antagonist in the RVM was sufficient to reverse heat hyperalgesia 4 h, 4 days or 2 weeks after intraplantar (ipl) injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Antagonism of NK1 receptors in the RVM did not prevent or reverse tactile hypersensitivity induced by CFA, but did attenuate that produced by capsaicin. NK1 receptor antagonism did not prevent the development of thermal hyperalgesia, tactile hypersensitivity or spontaneous pain behaviors induced by mustard oil (MO). The results suggest that Sub P has bimodal actions in the RVM and that following inflammatory injury, it can play a critical role as a pronociceptive agent in the development and maintenance of hyperalgesia and tactile hypersensitivity. However, its actions are highly dependent on the stimulus modality and the type of injury, and this may be an additional basis for the poor efficacy of NK1 receptor antagonists in clinical trials.

An NK1 receptor antagonist microinjected into the periaqueductal gray blocks lateral hypothalamic-induced antinociception in rats

Substantial data are accumulating that implicate the lateral hypothalamus (LH) as part of the descending pain modulatory system. The LH modifies nociception in the spinal cord dorsal horn partly through connections with the periaqueductal gray (PAG), an area known to play a central role in brainstem modulation of nociception. Early work demonstrated a putative substance P connection between the LH and the PAG, but the connection is not fully defined. To determine whether LH-induced antinociception mediated by the PAG is neurokinin1 (NK1) receptor-dependent, we conducted behavioral experiments in which the cholinergic agonist carbachol (125 nmol) was microinjected into the LH of lightly anesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 g) and antinociception was obtained on the tail flick or foot withdrawal tests. Cobalt chloride (100 nM), which reversibly blocks synaptic activation, blocked LH-induced antinociception. In another set of experiments, the specific NK1 receptor antagonist L-703,606 (5 microg) was microinjected in the PAG following LH stimulation with carbachol abolished LH-induced antinociception as well. Microinjection of cobalt chloride or L-703,606 in the absence of LH stimulation had no effect. These behavioral experiments coupled with earlier work provide converging evidence to support the hypothesis that antinociception produced by activating neurons in the LH is mediated in part by the subsequent activation of neurons in the PAG by NK1 receptors.

The diagonal band of Broca is involved in the pressor pathway activated by noradrenaline microinjected into the periaqueductal gray area of rats

AIMS

The dorsal periaqueductal gray area (dPAG) is involved in cardiovascular modulation. Previously, we reported that noradrenaline (NA) microinjection into the dPAG caused a pressor response that was mediated by vasopressin release into the circulation. However, the neuronal pathway that mediates this response is as yet unknown. There is evidence that chemical stimulation of the diagonal band of Broca (dbB) also causes a pressor response mediated by systemic vasopressin release. In the present study, we evaluated the participation of the dbB in the pressor response caused by NA microinjection into the dPAG as well as the existence of neural connections between these areas.

MAIN METHODS

With the above goal, we verified the effect of the pharmacological ablation of the dbB on the cardiovascular response to NA microinjection into the dPAG of unanesthetized rats. In addition, we microinjected the neuronal tracer biotinylated-dextran-amine (BDA) into the dPAG and looked for efferent projections from the dPAG to the dbB.

KEY FINDINGS

The pharmacologically reversible ablation of the dbB with local microinjection of CoCl(2) significantly reduced the pressor response caused by NA microinjection (15 nmol/50 nL) into the dPAG. In addition, BDA microinjection into the dPAG labeled axons in the dbB, pointing to the existence of direct connections between these areas.

SIGNIFICANCE

The present results indicate that synapses within the dbB are involved in the pressor pathway activated by NA microinjection into the dPAG and direct neural projection from the dPAG to the dbB may constitute the neuroanatomic substrate for this pressor pathway.

Effect of lidocaine administration at the nucleus locus coeruleus level on lateral hypothalamus-induced antinociception in the rat

Several lines of evidence have shown that stimulation or inactivation of lateral hypothalamus (LH) produces antinociception. In this study, we assessed the role of nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) in antinociceptive response induced by LH stimulation or inactivation in the rat. The cholinergic agonist carbachol (125 nmol/0.5 microl saline) or lidocaine (2%; 0.5 microl) was unilaterally microinjected into the LH with the LC inactivation concurrently. Antinociceptive responses were obtained by tail-flick test and represented as maximal possible effect (MPE) at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 min after drug administration. The results showed that microinjection of carbachol into the LH significantly induced antinociception at 5 and 10 min (p<0.001). This effect was significantly blocked by microinjection of lidocaine into the LC. On the other hand, microinjection of lidocaine into LH-induced antinociception at 5 (p<0.01) and 10 (p<0.05) min after administration. However, inactivation of the LC following the LH inactivation increased MPE at 5 min after injection. These findings support the conclusion that antinociception produced by LH stimulation or inactivation involves two separate mechanisms. It seems that analgesic response induced by LH stimulation is mediated in part by the subsequent activation of spinally projecting noradrenergic neurons in the LC cell group.