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Fenech C, Winters BL, Otsu Y, Aubrey KR. Supraspinal glycinergic neurotransmission in pain: A scoping review of current literature. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 39075923 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The neurotransmitter glycine is an agonist at the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors. In addition, it has recently been discovered to act at two new receptors, the excitatory glycine receptor and metabotropic glycine receptor. Glycine's neurotransmitter roles have been most extensively investigated in the spinal cord, where it is known to play essential roles in pain, itch, and motor function. In contrast, less is known about supraspinal glycinergic functions, and their contributions to pain circuits are largely unrecognized. As glycinergic neurons are absent from cortical regions, a clearer understanding of how supraspinal glycine modulates pain could reveal new pharmacological targets. This review aims to synthesize the published research on glycine's role in the adult brain, highlighting regions where glycine signaling may modulate pain responses. This was achieved through a scoping review methodology identifying several key regions of supraspinal pain circuitry where glycine signaling is involved. Therefore, this review unveils critical research gaps for supraspinal glycine's potential roles in pain and pain-associated responses, encouraging researchers to consider glycinergic neurotransmission more widely when investigating neural mechanisms of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Fenech
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bryony L Winters
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yo Otsu
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karin R Aubrey
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Kramer PR, Hornung RS, Umorin M, Benson MD, Kinchington PR. Neurexin 3 Regulates Synaptic Connections Between Central Amygdala Neurons and Excitable Cells of the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus in Rats with Varicella Zoster Induced Orofacial Pain. J Pain Res 2024; 17:2311-2324. [PMID: 38974829 PMCID: PMC11227312 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s441706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Herpes Zoster in humans is the result of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. Injecting rats with varicella zoster virus produces pain similar to herpes zoster "shingles" pain in humans. . In a previous study, orofacial pain was induced by injecting the whisker pad of male rats with VZV and the pain response increased after attenuating neurexin 3 (Nrxn3) expression in the central amygdala. Neurons descend from the central amygdala to the lateral parabrachial nucleus and orofacial pain signals ascend to the lateral parabrachial nucleus. GABAergic neurons within the central amygdala regulate pain by inhibiting activity within the lateral parabrachial nucleus. Attenuating Nrxn3 expression in the central amygdala increased GABA release in the lateral parabrachial nucleus suggesting Nrxn3 controls pain by regulating GABA release. Nrxn3 can also control synaptic connections between neurons, and we hypothesized that Nrxn3 knockdown in the central amygdala would reduce the number of GABAergic synaptic connections in the lateral parabrachial nucleus and increase VZV associated pain. Methods To test this idea, the number of synaptic connections between GABAergic cells of the central amygdala and excitatory or dynorphin positive neurons within the lateral parabrachial nucleus were quantitated after infusion of a virus expressing synaptophysin. Synaptophysin is a synaptic vesicle protein that labels neuronal synaptic connections. These connections were measured in rats with and without whisker pad injection of VZV and knockdown of Nrxn3 within the central amygdala. Orofacial pain was measured using a place escape avoidance paradigm. Results GABAergic synaptic connections were reduced in the lateral parabrachial nucleus after Nrxn3 knockdown. Rats with a reduction in the number of connections had an increase in VZV associated orofacial pain. Immunostaining with the pain marker prodynorphin indicated that the reduction in GABAergic connections was primarily associated with prodynorphin positive neurons. Discussion The results suggest Nrxn3 reduces VZV associated orofacial pain, in part, by enhancing synaptic connections between GABA cells of the central amygdala and pain neurons within the lateral parabrachial nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip R Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rebecca S Hornung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mikhail Umorin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - M Douglas Benson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Paul R Kinchington
- Department of Ophthalmology and of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Dou YN, Liu Y, Ding WQ, Li Q, Zhou H, Li L, Zhao MT, Li ZYQ, Yuan J, Wang XF, Zou WY, Li A, Sun YG. Single-neuron projectome-guided analysis reveals the neural circuit mechanism underlying endogenous opioid antinociception. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae195. [PMID: 39045468 PMCID: PMC11264302 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Endogenous opioid antinociception is a self-regulatory mechanism that reduces chronic pain, but its underlying circuit mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we showed that endogenous opioid antinociception required the activation of mu-opioid receptors (MORs) in GABAergic neurons of the central amygdala nucleus (CEA) in a persistent-hyperalgesia mouse model. Pharmacogenetic suppression of these CEAMOR neurons, which mimics the effect of MOR activation, alleviated the persistent hyperalgesia. Furthermore, single-neuron projection analysis revealed multiple projectome-based subtypes of CEAMOR neurons, each innervating distinct target brain regions. We found that the suppression of axon branches projecting to the parabrachial nucleus (PB) of one subtype of CEAMOR neurons alleviated persistent hyperalgesia, indicating a subtype- and axonal-branch-specific mechanism of action. Further electrophysiological analysis revealed that suppression of a distinct CEA-PB disinhibitory circuit controlled endogenous opioid antinociception. Thus, this study identified the central neural circuit that underlies endogenous opioid antinociception, providing new insight into the endogenous pain modulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Nong Dou
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Department of Biology, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wen-Qun Ding
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hua Zhou
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ling Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Meng-Ting Zhao
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zheng-Yi-Qi Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wang-Yuan Zou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Anan Li
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yan-Gang Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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Hu Z, Huang X, Liu J, Wang Z, Xi Y, Yang Y, Lin S, So KF, Huang L, Tao Q, Ren C. A visual circuit related to the parabrachial nucleus for the antipruritic effects of bright light treatment. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114356. [PMID: 38865246 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In addition to its role in vision, light also serves non-image-forming visual functions. Despite clinical evidence suggesting the antipruritic effects of bright light treatment, the circuit mechanisms underlying the effects of light on itch-related behaviors remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that bright light treatment reduces itch-related behaviors in mice through a visual circuit related to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN). Specifically, a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) innervates GABAergic neurons in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet (vLGN/IGL), which subsequently inhibit CaMKIIα+ neurons in the LPBN. Activation of both the vLGN/IGL-projecting RGCs and the vLGN/IGL-to-LPBN projections is sufficient to reduce itch-related behaviors induced by various pruritogens. Importantly, we demonstrate that the antipruritic effects of bright light treatment rely on the activation of the retina-vLGN/IGL-LPBN pathway. Collectively, our findings elucidate a visual circuit related to the LPBN that underlies the antipruritic effects of bright light treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengfang Hu
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaodan Huang
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jianyu Liu
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ziyang Wang
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yue Xi
- Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institute, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Song Lin
- Physiology Department, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institute, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Qian Tao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Psychology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Chaoran Ren
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institute, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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Yakhnitsa V, Thompson J, Ponomareva O, Ji G, Kiritoshi T, Mahimainathan L, Molehin D, Pruitt K, Neugebauer V. Dysfunction of Small-Conductance Ca 2+-Activated Potassium (SK) Channels Drives Amygdala Hyperexcitability and Neuropathic Pain Behaviors: Involvement of Epigenetic Mechanisms. Cells 2024; 13:1055. [PMID: 38920682 PMCID: PMC11201618 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroplasticity in the amygdala and its central nucleus (CeA) is linked to pain modulation and pain behaviors, but cellular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we addressed the role of small-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium (SK) channels in pain-related amygdala plasticity. The facilitatory effects of the intra-CeA application of an SK channel blocker (apamin) on the pain behaviors of control rats were lost in a neuropathic pain model, whereas an SK channel activator (NS309) inhibited pain behaviors in neuropathic rats but not in sham controls, suggesting the loss of the inhibitory behavioral effects of amygdala SK channels. Brain slice electrophysiology found hyperexcitability of CeA neurons in the neuropathic pain condition due to the loss of SK channel-mediated medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP), which was accompanied by decreased SK2 channel protein and mRNA expression, consistent with a pretranscriptional mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms involved the epigenetic silencing of the SK2 gene due to the increased DNA methylation of the CpG island of the SK2 promoter region and the change in methylated CpG sites in the CeA in neuropathic pain. This study identified the epigenetic dysregulation of SK channels in the amygdala (CeA) as a novel mechanism of neuropathic pain-related plasticity and behavior that could be targeted to control abnormally enhanced amygdala activity and chronic neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Yakhnitsa
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Jeremy Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Olga Ponomareva
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Guangchen Ji
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Takaki Kiritoshi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Lenin Mahimainathan
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Deborah Molehin
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Garrison Institute on Aging, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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6
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Maiarù M, Leese C, Silva-Hucha S, Fontana-Giusti S, Tait L, Tamagnini F, Davletov B, Hunt SP. Substance P-Botulinum Mediates Long-term Silencing of Pain Pathways that can be Re-instated with a Second Injection of the Construct in Mice. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024; 25:104466. [PMID: 38218509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.01.331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain presents an enormous personal and economic burden and there is an urgent need for effective treatments. In a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain, selective silencing of key neurons in spinal pain signalling networks with botulinum constructs resulted in a reduction of pain behaviours associated with the peripheral nerve. However, to establish clinical relevance it was important to know how long this silencing period lasted. Now, we show that neuronal silencing and the concomitant reduction of neuropathic mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity lasts for up to 120d following a single injection of botulinum construct. Crucially, we show that silencing and analgesia can then be reinstated with a second injection of the botulinum conjugate. Here we demonstrate that single doses of botulinum-toxin conjugates are a powerful new way of providing long-term neuronal silencing and pain relief. PERSPECTIVE: This research demonstrates that botulinum-toxin conjugates are a powerful new way of providing long-term neuronal silencing without toxicity following a single injection of the conjugate and have the potential for repeated dosing when silencing reverses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Maiarù
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Reading; Room 109, Hopkins Building, Whiteknights Campus, Reading RG6 6UB, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Leese
- Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield; Sheffield S10 2TN
| | - Silvia Silva-Hucha
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medawar Building, University College London; Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Fontana-Giusti
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Reading; Room 109, Hopkins Building, Whiteknights Campus, Reading RG6 6UB, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Tait
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University; Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Tamagnini
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Reading; Room 109, Hopkins Building, Whiteknights Campus, Reading RG6 6UB, United Kingdom
| | - Bazbek Davletov
- Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield; Sheffield S10 2TN
| | - Stephen P Hunt
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medawar Building, University College London; Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Zheng J, Wu X, Xu H. Oxytocinergic Control of a Hypothalamic Social Fear Circuitry. Neurosci Bull 2024:10.1007/s12264-024-01228-9. [PMID: 38763997 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01228-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, 311100, China
| | - Xingying Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Han Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Psychiatry of the Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, 311100, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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Singh Alvarado J, Lutas A, Madara JC, Isaac J, Lommer C, Massengill C, Andermann ML. Transient cAMP production drives rapid and sustained spiking in brainstem parabrachial neurons to suppress feeding. Neuron 2024; 112:1416-1425.e5. [PMID: 38417435 PMCID: PMC11065603 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Brief stimuli can trigger longer-lasting brain states. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) could help sustain such states by coupling slow-timescale molecular signals to neuronal excitability. Brainstem parabrachial nucleus glutamatergic (PBNGlut) neurons regulate sustained brain states such as pain and express Gs-coupled GPCRs that increase cAMP signaling. We asked whether cAMP in PBNGlut neurons directly influences their excitability and effects on behavior. Both brief tail shocks and brief optogenetic stimulation of cAMP production in PBNGlut neurons drove minutes-long suppression of feeding. This suppression matched the duration of prolonged elevations in cAMP, protein kinase A (PKA) activity, and calcium activity in vivo and ex vivo, as well as sustained, PKA-dependent increases in action potential firing ex vivo. Shortening this elevation in cAMP reduced the duration of feeding suppression following tail shocks. Thus, molecular signaling in PBNGlut neurons helps prolong neural activity and behavioral states evoked by brief, salient bodily stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonnathan Singh Alvarado
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew Lutas
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Joseph C Madara
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeremiah Isaac
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Caroline Lommer
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Mark L Andermann
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Condon LF, Yu Y, Park S, Cao F, Pauli JL, Nelson TS, Palmiter RD. Parabrachial Calca neurons drive nociplasticity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114057. [PMID: 38583149 PMCID: PMC11210282 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Pain that persists beyond the time required for tissue healing and pain that arises in the absence of tissue injury, collectively referred to as nociplastic pain, are poorly understood phenomena mediated by plasticity within the central nervous system. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) is a hub that relays aversive sensory information and appears to play a role in nociplasticity. Here, by preventing PBN Calca neurons from releasing neurotransmitters, we demonstrate that activation of Calca neurons is necessary for the manifestation and maintenance of chronic pain. Additionally, by directly stimulating Calca neurons, we demonstrate that Calca neuron activity is sufficient to drive nociplasticity. Aversive stimuli of multiple sensory modalities, such as exposure to nitroglycerin, cisplatin, or lithium chloride, can drive nociplasticity in a Calca-neuron-dependent manner. Aversive events drive nociplasticity in Calca neurons in the form of increased activity and excitability; however, neuroplasticity also appears to occur in downstream circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan F Condon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ying Yu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Sekun Park
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Feng Cao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jordan L Pauli
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Tyler S Nelson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Richard D Palmiter
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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10
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Zheng J, Zhang XM, Tang W, Li Y, Wang P, Jin J, Luo Z, Fang S, Yang S, Wei Z, Song K, Huang Z, Wang Z, Zhu Z, Shi N, Xiao D, Yuan L, Shen H, Huang L, Li B. An insular cortical circuit required for itch sensation and aversion. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1453-1468.e6. [PMID: 38484733 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Itch encompasses both sensory and emotional dimensions, with the two dimensions reciprocally exacerbating each other. However, whether a shared neural circuit mechanism governs both dimensions remains elusive. Here, we report that the anterior insular cortex (AIC) is activated by both histamine-dependent and -independent itch stimuli. The activation of AIC elicits aversive emotion and exacerbates pruritogen-induced itch sensation and aversion. Mechanistically, AIC excitatory neurons project to the GABAergic neurons in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST). Manipulating the activity of the AIC → dBNST pathway affects both itch sensation and itch-induced aversion. Our study discovers the shared neural circuit (AIC → dBNST pathway) underlying the itch sensation and aversion, highlights the critical role of the AIC as a central hub for the itch processing, and provides a framework to understand the neural mechanisms underlying the sensation and emotion interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieyan Zheng
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao Min Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wenting Tang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yonglin Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Pei Wang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jianhua Jin
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhengyi Luo
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shunchang Fang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shana Yang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zicheng Wei
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Kexin Song
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zihan Huang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ziyu Zhu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Naizhen Shi
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Diyun Xiao
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Linyu Yuan
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hualin Shen
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Lianyan Huang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
| | - Boxing Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
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11
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Chen H, Bleimeister IH, Nguyen EK, Li J, Cui AY, Stratton HJ, Smith KM, Baccei ML, Ross SE. The functional and anatomical characterization of three spinal output pathways of the anterolateral tract. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113829. [PMID: 38421871 PMCID: PMC11025583 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The nature of spinal output pathways that convey nociceptive information to the brain has been the subject of controversy. Here, we provide anatomical, molecular, and functional characterizations of two distinct anterolateral pathways: one, ascending in the lateral spinal cord, triggers nociceptive behaviors, and the other one, ascending in the ventral spinal cord, when inhibited, leads to sensorimotor deficits. Moreover, the lateral pathway consists of at least two subtypes. The first is a contralateral pathway that extends to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and thalamus; the second is a bilateral pathway that projects to the bilateral parabrachial nucleus (PBN). Finally, we present evidence showing that activation of the contralateral pathway is sufficient for defensive behaviors such as running and freezing, whereas the bilateral pathway is sufficient for attending behaviors such as licking and guarding. This work offers insight into the complex organizational logic of the anterolateral system in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichao Chen
- Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Isabel H Bleimeister
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Eileen K Nguyen
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Abby Yilin Cui
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Harrison J Stratton
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kelly M Smith
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Mark L Baccei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Sarah E Ross
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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12
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Goldstein N, Maes A, Allen HN, Nelson TS, Kruger KA, Kindel M, Smith NK, Carty JRE, Villari RE, Cho E, Marble EL, Khanna R, Taylor BK, Kennedy A, Betley JN. A parabrachial hub for the prioritization of survival behavior. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.26.582069. [PMID: 38464066 PMCID: PMC10925167 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.26.582069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Long-term sustained pain in the absence of acute physical injury is a prominent feature of chronic pain conditions. While neurons responding to noxious stimuli have been identified, understanding the signals that persist without ongoing painful stimuli remains a challenge. Using an ethological approach based on the prioritization of adaptive survival behaviors, we determined that neuropeptide Y (NPY) signaling from multiple sources converges on parabrachial neurons expressing the NPY Y1 receptor to reduce sustained pain responses. Neural activity recordings and computational modeling demonstrate that activity in Y1R parabrachial neurons is elevated following injury, predicts functional coping behavior, and is inhibited by competing survival needs. Taken together, our findings suggest that parabrachial Y1 receptor-expressing neurons are a critical hub for endogenous analgesic pathways that suppress sustained pain states.
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13
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Rankin G, Chirila AM, Emanuel AJ, Zhang Z, Woolf CJ, Drugowitsch J, Ginty DD. Nerve injury disrupts temporal processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn through alterations in PV + interneurons. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113718. [PMID: 38294904 PMCID: PMC11101906 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
How mechanical allodynia following nerve injury is encoded in patterns of neural activity in the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) remains incompletely understood. We address this in mice using the spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain and in vivo electrophysiological recordings. Surprisingly, despite dramatic behavioral over-reactivity to mechanical stimuli following nerve injury, an overall increase in sensitivity or reactivity of DH neurons is not observed. We do, however, observe a marked decrease in correlated neural firing patterns, including the synchrony of mechanical stimulus-evoked firing, across the DH. Alterations in DH temporal firing patterns are recapitulated by silencing DH parvalbumin+ (PV+) interneurons, previously implicated in mechanical allodynia, as are allodynic pain-like behaviors. These findings reveal decorrelated DH network activity, driven by alterations in PV+ interneurons, as a prominent feature of neuropathic pain and suggest restoration of proper temporal activity as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat chronic neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genelle Rankin
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anda M Chirila
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alan J Emanuel
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zihe Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clifford J Woolf
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jan Drugowitsch
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David D Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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14
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Torruella-Suárez ML, Neugebauer B, Flores-Felix K, Keller A, Carrasquillo Y, Cramer N. Divergent changes in PBN excitability in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0416-23.2024. [PMID: 38331576 PMCID: PMC10921257 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0416-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The transition from acute to chronic pain involves maladaptive plasticity in central nociceptive pathways. Growing evidence suggests that changes within the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), an important component of the spino-parabrachio-amygdaloid pain pathway, are key contributors to the development and maintenance of chronic pain. In animal models of chronic pain, PBN neurons become sensitive to normally innocuous stimuli and responses to noxious stimuli become amplified and more often produce after-discharges that outlast the stimulus. Using ex vivo slice electrophysiology and two mouse models of neuropathic pain, sciatic cuff and chronic constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION), we find that changes in the firing properties of PBN neurons and a shift in inhibitory synaptic transmission may underlie this phenomenon. Compared to PBN neurons from shams, a larger proportion of PBN neurons from mice with a sciatic cuff were spontaneously active at rest, and these same neurons showed increased excitability relative to shams. In contrast, quiescent PBN neurons from cuff mice were less excitable than those from shams. Despite an increase in excitability in a subset of PBN neurons, the presence of after-discharges frequently observed in vivo were largely absent ex vivo in both injury models. However, GABAB-mediated presynaptic inhibition of GABAergic terminals is enhanced in PBN neurons after CCI-ION. These data suggest that the amplified activity of PBN neurons observed in rodent models of chronic pain arise through a combination of changes in firing properties and network excitability.Significance Statement Hyperactivity of neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) is causally linked to exaggerated pain behaviors in rodent models of chronic pain but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Using two mouse models of neuropathic pain, we show the intrinsic properties of PBN neurons are largely unaltered following injury. However, subsets of PBN neurons become more excitable and GABAB receptor mediated suppression of inhibitory terminals is enhanced after injury. Thus, shifts in network excitability may be a contributing factor in injury induced potentiation of PBN activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- María L Torruella-Suárez
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Benjamin Neugebauer
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Krystal Flores-Felix
- Department of Neurobiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Asaf Keller
- Department of Neurobiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yarimar Carrasquillo
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nathan Cramer
- Department of Neurobiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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15
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Bai HH, Wang KL, Zeng XR, Li J, Li Y, Xu JY, Zhang Y, Jiang HF, Yang X, Suo ZW, Hu XD. GPR39 regulated spinal glycinergic inhibition and mechanical inflammatory pain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj3808. [PMID: 38306424 PMCID: PMC10836721 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj3808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) senses the change of extracellular divalent zinc ion and signals through multiple G proteins to a broad spectrum of downstream effectors. Here, we found that GPR39 was prevalent at inhibitory synapses of spinal cord somatostatin-positive (SOM+) interneurons, a mechanosensitive subpopulation that is critical for the conveyance of mechanical pain. GPR39 complexed specifically with inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) and helped maintain glycinergic transmission in a manner independent of G protein signalings. Targeted knockdown of GPR39 in SOM+ interneurons reduced the glycinergic inhibition and facilitated the excitatory output from SOM+ interneurons to spinoparabrachial neurons that engaged superspinal neural circuits encoding both the sensory discriminative and affective motivational domains of pain experience. Our data showed that pharmacological activation of GPR39 or augmenting GPR39 interaction with GlyRs at the spinal level effectively alleviated the sensory and affective pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant and implicated GPR39 as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory mechanical pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu-Hu Bai
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
- School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Kang-Li Wang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Xiang-Ru Zeng
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Yu Xu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Public Health, Gansu University of Chinese medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Feng Jiang
- School of Public Health, Gansu University of Chinese medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Xian Yang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Zhan-Wei Suo
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Dong Hu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
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16
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Torres-Rodriguez JM, Wilson TD, Singh S, Torruella-Suárez ML, Chaudhry S, Adke AP, Becker JJ, Neugebauer B, Lin JL, Martinez Gonzalez S, Soler-Cedeño O, Carrasquillo Y. The parabrachial to central amygdala pathway is critical to injury-induced pain sensitization in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:508-520. [PMID: 37542159 PMCID: PMC10789863 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01673-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
The spino-ponto-amygdaloid pathway is a major ascending circuit relaying nociceptive information from the spinal cord to the brain. Potentiation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) to central amygdala (CeA) pathway has been reported in rodent models of persistent pain. However, the functional significance of this pathway in the modulation of the somatosensory component of pain was recently challenged by studies showing that spinal nociceptive neurons do not target CeA-projecting PBN cells and that manipulations of this pathway have no effect on reflexive-defensive somatosensory responses to peripheral noxious stimulation. Here, we showed that activation of CeA-projecting PBN neurons is critical to increase both stimulus-evoked and spontaneous nociceptive responses following an injury in male and female mice. Using optogenetic-assisted circuit mapping, we confirmed a functional excitatory projection from PBN→CeA that is independent of the genetic or firing identity of CeA cells. We then showed that peripheral noxious stimulation increased the expression of the neuronal activity marker Fos in CeA-projecting PBN neurons and that chemogenetic inactivation of these cells decreased behavioral hypersensitivity in models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain without affecting baseline nociception. Lastly, we showed that chemogenetic activation of CeA-projecting PBN neurons is sufficient to induced bilateral hypersensitivity without injury. Together, our results indicate that the PBN→CeA pathway is a key modulator of pain-related behaviors that can increase reflexive-defensive and affective-motivational responses to somatosensory stimulation in injured states without affecting nociception under normal physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeitzel M Torres-Rodriguez
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Torri D Wilson
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sudhuman Singh
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maria L Torruella-Suárez
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sarah Chaudhry
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anisha P Adke
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jordan J Becker
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin Neugebauer
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jenny L Lin
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Santiago Martinez Gonzalez
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Omar Soler-Cedeño
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yarimar Carrasquillo
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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17
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Albrechet‐Souza L, Kasten CR, Bertagna NB, Wills TA. Sex-specific negative affect-like behaviour and parabrachial nucleus activation induced by BNST stimulation in adult mice with adolescent alcohol history. Addict Biol 2024; 29:e13366. [PMID: 38380710 PMCID: PMC10883599 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Adolescent alcohol use is a strong predictor for the subsequent development of alcohol use disorders later in life. Additionally, adolescence is a critical period for the onset of affective disorders, which can contribute to problematic drinking behaviours and relapse, particularly in females. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that exposure to adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) vapour alters glutamatergic transmission in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and, when combined with adult stress, elicits sex-specific changes in glutamatergic plasticity and negative affect-like behaviours in mice. Building on these findings, the current work investigated whether BNST stimulation could substitute for stress exposure to increase the latency to consume a palatable food in a novel context (hyponeophagia) and promote social avoidance in adult mice with AIE history. Given the dense connections between the BNST and the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), a region involved in mediating threat assessment and feeding behaviours, we hypothesized that increased negative affect-like behaviours would be associated with PBN activation. Our results revealed that the chemogenetic stimulation of the dorsolateral BNST induced hyponeophagia in females with AIE history, but not in female controls or males of either group. Social interaction remained unaffected in both sexes. Notably, this behavioural phenotype was associated with higher activation of calcitonin gene-related peptide and dynorphin cells in the PBN. These findings provide new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the development of negative affect in females and highlight the potential involvement of the BNST-PBN circuitry in regulating emotional responses to alcohol-related stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Albrechet‐Souza
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
- Alcohol & Drug Center of Excellence, School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | - Chelsea R. Kasten
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | - Natalia B. Bertagna
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
- Department of PharmacologyFederal University of São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
| | - Tiffany A. Wills
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
- Alcohol & Drug Center of Excellence, School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
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18
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Vigorito M, Chang SL. Alcohol use and the pain system. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2024; 4:12005. [PMID: 38389900 PMCID: PMC10880763 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2024.12005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization's epidemiological data from 2016 revealed that while 57% of the global population aged 15 years or older had abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous year, more than half of the population in the Americas, Europe, and Western Pacific consumed alcohol. The spectrum of alcohol use behavior is broad: low-risk use (sensible and in moderation), at-risk use (e.g., binge drinking), harmful use (misuse) and dependence (alcoholism; addiction; alcohol use disorder). The at-risk use and misuse of alcohol is associated with the transition to dependence, as well as many damaging health outcomes and preventable causes of premature death. Recent conceptualizations of alcohol dependence posit that the subjective experience of pain may be a significant contributing factor in the transition across the spectrum of alcohol use behavior. This narrative review summarizes the effects of alcohol at all levels of the pain system. The pain system includes nociceptors as sensory indicators of potentially dangerous stimuli and tissue damage (nociception), spinal circuits mediating defensive reflexes, and most importantly, the supraspinal circuits mediating nocifensive behaviors and the perception of pain. Although the functional importance of pain is to protect from injury and further or future damage, chronic pain may emerge despite the recovery from, and absence of, biological damage (i.e., in the absence of nociception). Like other biological perceptual systems, pain is a construction contingent on sensory information and a history of individual experiences (i.e., learning and memory). Neuroadaptations and brain plasticity underlying learning and memory and other basic physiological functions can also result in pathological conditions such as chronic pain and addiction. Moreover, the negative affective/emotional aspect of pain perception provides embodied and motivational components that may play a substantial role in the transition from alcohol use to dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Vigorito
- Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, United States
| | - Sulie L Chang
- Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, United States
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19
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Matsuda T, Kobayashi K, Kobayashi K, Noda M. Two parabrachial Cck neurons involved in the feedback control of thirst or salt appetite. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113619. [PMID: 38157299 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Thirst and salt appetite are temporarily suppressed after water and salt ingestion, respectively, before absorption; however, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) is the relay center of ingestion signals from the digestive organs. We herein identify two distinct neuronal populations expressing cholecystokinin (Cck) mRNA in the lateral PBN that are activated in response to water and salt intake, respectively. The two Cck neurons in the dorsal-lateral compartment of the PBN project to the median preoptic nucleus and ventral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, respectively. The optogenetic stimulation of respective Cck neurons suppresses thirst or salt appetite under water- or salt-depleted conditions. The combination of optogenetics and in vivo Ca2+ imaging during ingestion reveals that both Cck neurons control GABAergic neurons in their target nuclei. These findings provide the feedback mechanisms for the suppression of thirst and salt appetite after ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Matsuda
- Homeostatic Mechanism Research Unit, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kazuto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Masaharu Noda
- Homeostatic Mechanism Research Unit, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
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20
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Li M, Yang G. A mesocortical glutamatergic pathway modulates neuropathic pain independent of dopamine co-release. Nat Commun 2024; 15:643. [PMID: 38245542 PMCID: PMC10799877 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45035-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction in the mesocortical pathway, connecting the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in chronic pain. While extensive research has focused on the role of dopamine, the contribution of glutamatergic signaling in pain modulation remains unknown. Using in vivo calcium imaging, we observe diminished VTA glutamatergic activity targeting the prelimbic cortex (PL) in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Optogenetic activation of VTA glutamatergic terminals in the PL alleviates neuropathic pain, whereas inhibiting these terminals in naïve mice induces pain-like responses. Importantly, this pain-modulating effect is independent of dopamine co-release, as demonstrated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion. Furthermore, we show that VTA neurons primarily project to excitatory neurons in the PL, and their activation restores PL outputs to the anterior cingulate cortex, a key region involved in pain processing. These findings reveal a distinct mesocortical glutamatergic pathway that critically modulates neuropathic pain independent of dopamine signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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21
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Kang SJ, Kim JH, Kim DI, Roberts BZ, Han S. A pontomesencephalic PACAPergic pathway underlying panic-like behavioral and somatic symptoms in mice. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:90-101. [PMID: 38177337 PMCID: PMC11195305 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01504-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Panic disorder is characterized by uncontrollable fear accompanied by somatic symptoms that distinguish it from other anxiety disorders. Neural mechanisms underlying these unique symptoms are not completely understood. Here, we report that the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-expressing neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus projecting to the dorsal raphe are crucial for panic-like behavioral and physiological alterations. These neurons are activated by panicogenic stimuli but inhibited in conditioned fear and anxiogenic conditions. Activating these neurons elicits strong defensive behaviors and rapid cardiorespiratory increase without creating aversive memory, whereas inhibiting them attenuates panic-associated symptoms. Chemogenetic or pharmacological inhibition of downstream PACAP receptor-expressing dorsal raphe neurons abolishes panic-like symptoms. The pontomesencephalic PACAPergic pathway is therefore a likely mediator of panicogenesis, and may be a promising therapeutic target for treating panic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukjae J Kang
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jong-Hyun Kim
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Il Kim
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Z Roberts
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sung Han
- Peptide Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
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22
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Yao D, Chen Y, Chen G. The role of pain modulation pathway and related brain regions in pain. Rev Neurosci 2023; 34:899-914. [PMID: 37288945 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Pain is a multifaceted process that encompasses unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences. The essence of the pain process is aversion, or perceived negative emotion. Central sensitization plays a significant role in initiating and perpetuating of chronic pain. Melzack proposed the concept of the "pain matrix", in which brain regions associated with pain form an interconnected network, rather than being controlled by a singular brain region. This review aims to investigate distinct brain regions involved in pain and their interconnections. In addition, it also sheds light on the reciprocal connectivity between the ascending and descending pathways that participate in pain modulation. We review the involvement of various brain areas during pain and focus on understanding the connections among them, which can contribute to a better understanding of pain mechanisms and provide opportunities for further research on therapies for improved pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Yeru Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
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23
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Zheng HY, Chen YM, Xu Y, Cen C, Wang Y. Excitatory neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus mediate the interruptive effect of inflammatory pain on a sustained attention task. J Transl Med 2023; 21:896. [PMID: 38072957 PMCID: PMC10712130 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04583-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attentional deficits are among the most common pain-induced cognitive disorders. Pain disrupts attention and may excessively occupy attentional resources in pathological states, leading to daily function impairment and increased disability. However, the neural circuit mechanisms by which pain disrupts attention are incompletely understood. METHODS We used a three-choice serial reaction time task (3CSRTT) to construct a sustained-attention task model in male C57BL/6J mice. Formalin or complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into a paw to establish an inflammatory pain model. We measured changes in 3CSRTT performance in the two inflammatory pain models, and investigated the neural circuit mechanisms of pain-induced attentional deficits. RESULTS Acute inflammatory pain impaired 3CSRTT performance, while chronic inflammatory pain had no effect. Either inhibition of the ascending pain pathway by blockade of the conduction of nociceptive signals in the sciatic nerve using the local anesthetic lidocaine or chemogenetic inhibition of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) attenuated the acute inflammatory pain-induced impairment of 3CSRTT performance, while chemogenetic activation of CaMKIIα neurons in the LPBN disrupted the 3CSRTT. Furthermore, the activity of CaMKIIα neurons in the LPBN was significantly lower on Day 2 after complete Freund's adjuvant injection than on the day of injection, which correlated with the recovery of 3CSRTT performance during chronic inflammatory pain. CONCLUSIONS Activation of excitatory neurons in the LPBN is a mechanism by which acute inflammatory pain disrupts sustained attention. This finding has implications for the treatment of pain and its cognitive comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Yu Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yu-Meng Chen
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yao Xu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Cheng Cen
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Yun Wang
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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24
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Ma W, Li L, Kong L, Zhang H, Yuan P, Huang Z, Wang Y. Whole-brain monosynaptic inputs to lateral periaqueductal gray glutamatergic neurons in mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:4147-4159. [PMID: 37424163 PMCID: PMC10651995 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The lateral periaqueductal gray (LPAG), which mainly contains glutamatergic neurons, plays an important role in social responses, pain, and offensive and defensive behaviors. Currently, the whole-brain monosynaptic inputs to LPAG glutamatergic neurons are unknown. This study aims to explore the structural framework of the underlying neural mechanisms of LPAG glutamatergic neurons. METHODS This study used retrograde tracing systems based on the rabies virus, Cre-LoxP technology, and immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS We found that 59 nuclei projected monosynaptic inputs to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons. In addition, seven hypothalamic nuclei, namely the lateral hypothalamic area (LH), lateral preoptic area (LPO), substantia innominata (SI), medial preoptic area, ventral pallidum, posterior hypothalamic area, and lateral globus pallidus, projected most densely to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons. Notably, we discovered through further immunofluorescence analysis that the inputs to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons were colocalized with several markers related to important neurological functions associated with physiological behaviors. CONCLUSION The LPAG glutamatergic neurons received dense projections from the hypothalamus, especially nuclei such as LH, LPO, and SI. The input neurons were colocalized with several markers of physiological behaviors, which show the pivotal role of glutamatergic neurons in the physiological behaviors regulation by LPAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei‐Xiang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ling‐Xi Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hui Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re‐evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, School of PharmacyWannan Medical CollegeWuhuChina
| | - Ping‐Chuan Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re‐evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, School of PharmacyWannan Medical CollegeWuhuChina
| | - Zhi‐Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yi‐Qun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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25
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Nagashima T, Mikami K, Tohyama S, Konno A, Hirai H, Watabe AM. State-dependent modulation of positive and negative affective valences by a parabrachial nucleus-to-ventral tegmental area pathway in mice. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1273322. [PMID: 38094239 PMCID: PMC10716301 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1273322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Appropriately responding to various sensory signals in the environment is essential for animal survival. Accordingly, animal behaviors are closely related to external and internal states, which include the positive and negative emotional values of sensory signals triggered by environmental factors. While the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) plays a key role in nociception and supports negative valences, it also transmits signals including positive valences. However, the downstream neuronal mechanisms of positive and negative valences have not been fully explored. In the present study, we investigated the ventral tegmental area (VTA) as a projection target for LPB neurons. Optogenetic activation of LPB-VTA terminals in male mice elicits positive reinforcement in an operant task and induces both avoidance and attraction in a place-conditioning task. Inhibition of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65-expressing cells in the VTA promotes avoidance behavior induced by photoactivation of the LPB-VTA pathway. These findings indicate that the LPB-VTA pathway is one of the LPB outputs for the transmission of positive and negative valence signals, at least in part, with GABAergic modification in VTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Nagashima
- Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kaori Mikami
- Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Suguru Tohyama
- Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ayumu Konno
- Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
- Viral Vector Core, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Hirai
- Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
- Viral Vector Core, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Maebashi, Japan
| | - Ayako M. Watabe
- Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
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26
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Vasu SO, Kaphzan H. Direct Current Stimulation Modulates Synaptic Facilitation via Distinct Presynaptic Calcium Channels. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16866. [PMID: 38069188 PMCID: PMC10706473 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a subthreshold neurostimulation technique known for ameliorating neuropsychiatric conditions. The principal mechanism of tDCS is the differential polarization of subcellular neuronal compartments, particularly the axon terminals that are sensitive to external electrical fields. Yet, the underlying mechanism of tDCS is not fully clear. Here, we hypothesized that direct current stimulation (DCS)-induced modulation of presynaptic calcium channel conductance alters axon terminal dynamics with regard to synaptic vesicle release. To examine the involvement of calcium-channel subtypes in tDCS, we recorded spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) from cortical layer-V pyramidal neurons under DCS while selectively inhibiting distinct subtypes of voltage-dependent calcium channels. Blocking P/Q or N-type calcium channels occluded the effects of DCS on sEPSCs, demonstrating their critical role in the process of DCS-induced modulation of spontaneous vesicle release. However, inhibiting T-type calcium channels did not occlude DCS-induced modulation of sEPSCs, suggesting that despite being active in the subthreshold range, T-type calcium channels are not involved in the axonal effects of DCS. DCS modulates synaptic facilitation by regulating calcium channels in axon terminals, primarily via controlling P/Q and N-type calcium channels, while T-type calcium channels are not involved in this mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanoch Kaphzan
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel
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27
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Stroman PW, Umraw M, Keast B, Algitami H, Hassanpour S, Merletti J. Structural and Physiological Modeling (SAPM) for the Analysis of Functional MRI Data Applied to a Study of Human Nociceptive Processing. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1568. [PMID: 38002528 PMCID: PMC10669617 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel method has been developed for analyzing connectivity between regions based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. This method, termed structural and physiological modeling (SAPM), combines information about blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) responses, anatomy, and physiology to model coordinated signaling across networks of regions, including input and output signaling from each region and whether signaling is predominantly inhibitory or excitatory. The present study builds on a prior proof-of-concept demonstration of the SAPM method by providing evidence for the choice of network model and anatomical sub-regions, demonstrating the reproducibility of the results and identifying statistical thresholds needed to infer significance. The method is further validated by applying it to investigate human nociceptive processing in the brainstem and spinal cord and comparing the results to the known neuroanatomy, including anatomical regions and inhibitory and excitatory signaling. The results of this analysis demonstrate that it is possible to obtain reliable information about input and output signaling from anatomical regions and to identify whether this signaling has predominantly inhibitory or excitatory effects. SAPM provides much more detailed information about neuroanatomy than was previously possible based on fMRI data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W. Stroman
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Physics, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Maya Umraw
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Brieana Keast
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Hannan Algitami
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Shima Hassanpour
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Jessica Merletti
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
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28
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Tsou JH, Lee SR, Chiang CY, Yang YJ, Guo FY, Ni SY, Yau HJ. Negative Emotions Recruit the Parabrachial Nucleus Efferent to the VTA to Disengage Instrumental Food Seeking. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7276-7293. [PMID: 37684032 PMCID: PMC10621778 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2114-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) interfaces between taste and feeding systems and is also an important hub for relaying distress information and threats. Despite that the PBN sends projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a heterogeneous brain region that regulates motivational behaviors, the function of the PBN-to-VTA connection remains elusive. Here, by using male mice in several behavioral paradigms, we discover that VTA-projecting PBN neurons are significantly engaged in contextual fear, restraint or mild stress but not palatable feeding, visceral malaise, or thermal pain. These results suggest that the PBN-to-VTA input may relay negative emotions under threat. Consistent with this notion, optogenetic activation of PBN-to-VTA glutamatergic input results in aversion, which is sufficient to override palatable feeding. Moreover, in a palatable food-reinforced operant task, we demonstrate that transient optogenetic activation of PBN-to-VTA input during food reward retrieval disengages instrumental food-seeking behaviors but spares learned action-outcome association. By using an activity-dependent targeting approach, we show that VTA DA neurons are disengaged by the PBN afferent activation, implicating that VTA non-DA neurons may mediate PBN afferent regulation. We further show that optogenetic activation of VTA neurons functionally recruited by the PBN input results in aversion, dampens palatable feeding, and disengages palatable food self-administration behavior. Finally, we demonstrate that transient activation of VTA glutamatergic, but not GABAergic, neurons recapitulates the negative regulation of the PBN input on food self-administration behavior. Together, we reveal that the PBN-to-VTA input conveys negative affect, likely through VTA glutamatergic neurons, to disengage instrumental food-seeking behaviors.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The PBN receives multiple inputs and thus is well positioned to route information of various modalities to engage different downstream circuits to attend or respond accordingly. We demonstrate that the PBN-to-VTA input conveys negative affect and then triggers adaptive prioritized responses to address pertinent needs by withholding ongoing behaviors, such as palatable food seeking or intake shown in the present study. It has evolutionary significance because preparing to cope with stressful situations or threats takes priority over food seeking to promote survival. Knowing how appropriate adaptive responses are generated will provide new insights into circuitry mechanisms of various coping behaviors to changing environmental stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Hui Tsou
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Synaptic Plasticity Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
| | - Syun-Ruei Lee
- Laboratory for Neural Circuits and Behaviors, Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ying Chiang
- Laboratory for Neural Circuits and Behaviors, Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jie Yang
- Laboratory for Neural Circuits and Behaviors, Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Fong-Yi Guo
- Laboratory for Neural Circuits and Behaviors, Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ying Ni
- School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Hau-Jie Yau
- Laboratory for Neural Circuits and Behaviors, Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
- Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
- PhD Program in Translational Medicine, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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29
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Jia T, Chen J, Wang YD, Xiao C, Zhou CY. A subthalamo-parabrachial glutamatergic pathway is involved in stress-induced self-grooming in mice. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:2169-2183. [PMID: 37322164 PMCID: PMC10618182 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01114-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive self-grooming is an important behavioral phenotype of the stress response in rodents. Elucidating the neural circuit that regulates stress-induced self-grooming may suggest potential treatment to prevent maladaptation to stress that is implicated in emotional disorders. Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been found to induce strong self-grooming. In this study we investigated the role of the STN and a related neural circuit in mouse stress-related self-grooming. Body-restraint and foot-shock stress-induced self-grooming models were established in mice. We showed that both body restraint and foot shock markedly increased the expression of c-Fos in neurons in the STN and lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB). Consistent with this, the activity of STN neurons and LPB glutamatergic (Glu) neurons, as assessed with fiber photometry recording, was dramatically elevated during self-grooming in the stressed mice. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in parasagittal brain slices, we identified a monosynaptic projection from STN neurons to LPB Glu neurons that regulates stress-induced self-grooming in mice. Enhanced self-grooming induced by optogenetic activation of the STN-LPB Glu pathway was attenuated by treatment with fluoxetine (18 mg·kg-1·d-1, p.o., for 2 weeks) or in the presence of a cage mate. Furthermore, optogenetic inhibition of the STN-LPB pathway attenuated stress-related but not natural self-grooming. Taken together, these results suggest that the STN-LPB pathway regulates the acute stress response and is a potential target for intervention in stress-related emotional disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jia
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in Anesthesiology, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in Anesthesiology, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Ying-di Wang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in Anesthesiology, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Cheng Xiao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in Anesthesiology, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
| | - Chun-Yi Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in Anesthesiology, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
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Li J, Tian C, Yuan S, Yin Z, Wei L, Chen F, Dong X, Liu A, Wang Z, Wu T, Tian C, Niu L, Wang L, Wang P, Xie W, Cao F, Shen H. Neuropathic pain following spinal cord hemisection induced by the reorganization in primary somatosensory cortex and regulated by neuronal activity of lateral parabrachial nucleus. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:3269-3289. [PMID: 37170721 PMCID: PMC10580357 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a common and thorny problem, influencing the life quality severely. This study aimed to elucidate the reorganization of the primary sensory cortex (S1) and the regulatory mechanism of the lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN) in the presence of allodynia or hyperalgesia after left spinal cord hemisection injury (LHS). METHODS Through behavioral tests, we first identified mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia following LHS. We then applied two-photon microscopy to observe calcium activity in S1 during mechanical or thermal stimulation and long-term spontaneous calcium activity after LHS. By slice patch clamp recording, the electrophysiological characteristics of neurons in lPBN were explored. Finally, exploiting chemogenetic activation or inhibition of the neurons in lPBN, allodynia or hyperalgesia was regulated. RESULTS The calcium activity in left S1 was increased during mechanical stimulation of right hind limb and thermal stimulation of tail, whereas in right S1 it was increased only with thermal stimulation of tail. The spontaneous calcium activity in right S1 changed more dramatically than that in left S1 after LHS. The lPBN was also activated after LHS, and exploiting chemogenetic activation or inhibition of the neurons in lPBN could induce or alleviate allodynia and hyperalgesia in central neuropathic pain. CONCLUSION The neuronal activity changes in S1 are closely related to limb pain, which has accurate anatomical correspondence. After LHS, the spontaneously increased functional connectivity of calcium transient in left S1 is likely causing the mechanical allodynia in right hind limb and increased neuronal activity in bilateral S1 may induce thermal hyperalgesia in tail. This state of allodynia and hyperalgesia can be regulated by lPBN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of OrthopedicsTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Chao Tian
- School of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Shiyang Yuan
- Department of OrthopedicsTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Zhenyu Yin
- Department of OrthopedicsTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Liangpeng Wei
- School of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Feng Chen
- School of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Xi Dong
- School of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Aili Liu
- Department of Cellular Biology, School of Basic ScienceTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Zhenhuan Wang
- School of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Tongrui Wu
- School of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Chunxiao Tian
- School of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Lin Niu
- Department of Cellular Biology, School of Basic ScienceTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of PhysiologyZhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Pu Wang
- Department of OrthopedicsTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Wanyu Xie
- Department of OrthopedicsTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Fujiang Cao
- Department of OrthopedicsTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Cellular Biology, School of Basic ScienceTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese MedicineShandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineJinanChina
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Condon LF, Yu Y, Park S, Cao F, Pauli JL, Nelson TS, Palmiter RD. Parabrachial Calca neurons drive nociplasticity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.26.564223. [PMID: 37961621 PMCID: PMC10634894 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.564223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Pain that persists beyond the time required for tissue healing and pain that arises in the absence of tissue injury are poorly understood phenomena mediated by plasticity within the central nervous system. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) is a hub that relays aversive sensory information and appears to play a role in nociplasticity. Here, by preventing PBN Calca neurons from releasing neurotransmitter or directly stimulating them we demonstrate that activation of Calca neurons is both necessary for the manifestation of chronic pain after nerve ligation and is sufficient to drive nociplasticity in wild-type mice. Aversive stimuli such as exposure to nitroglycerin, cisplatin, or LiCl can drive nociplasticity in a Calca-neuron-dependent manner. Calcium fluorescence imaging reveals that nitroglycerin activates PBN Calca neurons and potentiates their responses to mechanical stimulation. The activity and excitability of Calca neurons increased for several days after aversive events, but prolonged nociplasticity likely occurs in downstream circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan F Condon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ying Yu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Sekun Park
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Feng Cao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jordan L Pauli
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Tyler S Nelson
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, NY 10010, USA
| | - Richard D Palmiter
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Lead Contact
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Torruella-Suárez ML, Neugebauer B, Flores-Felix K, Keller A, Carrasquillo Y, Cramer N. Divergent changes in PBN excitability in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.11.561891. [PMID: 37905065 PMCID: PMC10614750 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.11.561891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The transition from acute to chronic pain involves maladaptive plasticity in central nociceptive pathways. Growing evidence suggests that changes within the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), an important component of the spino-parabrachio-amygdaloid pain pathway, are key contributors to the development and maintenance of chronic pain. In animal models of chronic pain, PBN neurons become sensitive to normally innocuous stimuli and responses to noxious stimuli become amplified and more often produce after-discharges that outlast the stimulus. Using ex vivo slice electrophysiology and two mouse models of neuropathic pain, sciatic cuff and chronic constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION), we find that changes in the firing properties of PBN neurons and a shift in inhibitory synaptic transmission may underlie this phenomenon. Compared to PBN neurons from shams, a larger proportion of PBN neurons from mice with a sciatic cuff were spontaneously active at rest, and these same neurons showed increased excitability relative to shams. In contrast, quiescent PBN neurons from cuff mice were less excitable than those from shams. Despite an increase in excitability in a subset of PBN neurons, the presence of after-discharges frequently observed in vivo were largely absent ex vivo in both injury models. However, GABAB-mediated presynaptic inhibition of GABAergic terminals is enhanced in PBN neurons after CCIION. These data suggest that the amplified activity of PBN neurons observed in rodent models of chronic pain arise through a combination of changes in firing properties and network excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- María L Torruella-Suárez
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Benjamin Neugebauer
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Krystal Flores-Felix
- Department of Neurobiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Asaf Keller
- Department of Neurobiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yarimar Carrasquillo
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nathan Cramer
- Department of Neurobiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Jiang SZ, Zhang HY, Eiden LE. PACAP Controls Endocrine and Behavioral Stress Responses via Separate Brain Circuits. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:673-685. [PMID: 37881538 PMCID: PMC10593940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The neuropeptide PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) is a master regulator of central and peripheral stress responses, yet it is not clear how PACAP projections throughout the brain execute endocrine and behavioral stress responses. Methods We used AAV (adeno-associated virus) neuronal tracing, an acute restraint stress (ARS) paradigm, and intersectional genetics, in C57BL/6 mice, to identify PACAP-containing circuits controlling stress-induced behavior and endocrine activation. Results PACAP deletion from forebrain excitatory neurons, including a projection directly from medial prefrontal cortex to hypothalamus, impairs c-fos activation and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) messenger RNA elevation in the paraventricular nucleus after 2 hours of restraint, without affecting ARS-induced hypophagia, or c-fos elevation in nonhypothalamic brain. Elimination of PACAP within projections from lateral parabrachial nucleus to extended amygdala, on the other hand, attenuates ARS-induced hypophagia, along with extended amygdala fos induction, without affecting ARS-induced CRH messenger RNA elevation in the paraventricular nucleus. PACAP projections to extended amygdala terminate at protein kinase C delta type (PKCδ) neurons in both the central amygdala and the oval bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Silencing of PKCδ neurons in the central amygdala, but not in the oval bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, attenuates ARS-induced hypophagia. Experiments were carried out in mice of both sexes with n ≥ 3 per group. Conclusions A frontocortical descending PACAP projection controls paraventricular nucleus CRH messenger RNA production to maintain hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and regulate the endocrine response to stress. An ascending PACAPergic projection from the external lateral parabrachial nucleus to PKCδ neurons in the central amygdala regulates behavioral responses to stress. Defining two separate limbs of the acute stress response provides broader insight into the specific brain circuitry engaged by the psychogenic stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Zhihong Jiang
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hai-Ying Zhang
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lee E. Eiden
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland
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Nguyen E, Chiang MC, Nguyen C, Ross SE. Brainstem Modulation of Nociception by Periaqueductal Gray Neurons Expressing the μ-Opioid Receptor in Mice. Anesthesiology 2023; 139:462-475. [PMID: 37364291 PMCID: PMC10870981 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacologic manipulations directed at the periaqueductal gray have demonstrated the importance of the μ-opioid receptor in modulating reflexive responses to nociception. The authors hypothesized that a supraspinal pathway centered on neurons in the periaqueductal gray containing the μ-opioid receptor could modulate nociceptive and itch behaviors. METHODS The study used anatomical, optogenetic, and chemogenetic approaches in male and female mice to manipulate μ-opioid receptor neurons in the periaqueductal gray. Behavioral assays including von Frey, Hargreaves, cold plantar, chloroquine-induced itch, hotplate, formalin-induced injury, capsaicin-induced injury, and open field tests were used. In separate experiments, naloxone was administered in a postsurgical model of latent sensitization. RESULTS Activation of μ-opioid receptor neurons in the periaqueductal gray increased jumping (least-squares mean difference of -3.30 s; 95% CI, -6.17 to -0.44; P = 0.023; n = 7 or 8 mice per group), reduced itch responses (least-squares mean difference of 70 scratching bouts; 95% CI, 35 to 105; P < 0.001; n = 8 mice), and elicited modestly antinociceptive effects (least-squares mean difference of -0.7 g on mechanical and -10.24 s on thermal testing; 95% CI, -1.3 to -0.2 and 95% CI, -13.77 to -6.70, and P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively; n = 8 mice). Last, the study uncovered the role of the periaqueductal gray in suppressing hyperalgesia after a postsurgical state of latent sensitization (least-squares mean difference comparing saline and naloxone of -12 jumps; 95% CI, -17 to -7; P < 0.001 for controls; and -2 jumps; 95% CI, -7 to 4; P = 0.706 after optogenetic stimulation; n = 7 to 9 mice per group). CONCLUSIONS μ-Opioid receptor neurons in the periaqueductal gray modulate distinct nocifensive behaviors: their activation reduced responses to mechanical and thermal testing, and attenuated scratching behaviors, but facilitated escape responses. The findings emphasize the role of the periaqueductal gray in the behavioral expression of nociception using reflexive and noxious paradigms. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Nguyen
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurobiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Anesthesiology, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael C. Chiang
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurobiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Catherine Nguyen
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurobiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sarah E. Ross
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurobiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Mussetto V, Teuchmann HL, Heinke B, Trofimova L, Sandkühler J, Drdla-Schutting R, Hogri R. Opioids Induce Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity in a Brainstem Pain Center in the Rat. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:1664-1680. [PMID: 37150382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Opioids are powerful analgesics commonly used in pain management. However, opioids can induce complex neuroadaptations, including synaptic plasticity, that ultimately drive severe side effects, such as pain hypersensitivity and strong aversion during prolonged administration or upon drug withdrawal, even following a single, brief administration. The lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) in the brainstem plays a key role in pain and emotional processing; yet, the effects of opioids on synaptic plasticity in this area remain unexplored. Using patch-clamp recordings in acute brainstem slices from male and female Sprague Dawley rats, we demonstrate a concentration-dependent, bimodal effect of opioids on excitatory synaptic transmission in the LPBN. While a lower concentration of DAMGO (0.5 µM) induced a long-term depression of synaptic strength (low-DAMGO LTD), abrupt termination of a higher concentration (10 µM) induced a long-term potentiation (high-DAMGO LTP) in a subpopulation of cells. LTD involved a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-dependent mechanism; in contrast, LTP required astrocytes and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation. Selective optogenetic activation of spinal and periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) inputs to the LPBN revealed that, while LTD was expressed at all parabrachial synapses tested, LTP was restricted to spino-parabrachial synapses. Thus, we uncovered previously unknown forms of opioid-induced long-term plasticity in the parabrachial nucleus that potentially modulate some adverse effects of opioids. PERSPECTIVE: We found a previously unrecognized site of opioid-induced plasticity in the lateral parabrachial nucleus, a key region for pain and emotional processing. Unraveling opioid-induced adaptations in parabrachial function might facilitate the identification of new therapeutic measures for addressing adverse effects of opioid discontinuation such as hyperalgesia and aversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Mussetto
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannah Luise Teuchmann
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Heinke
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lidia Trofimova
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Sandkühler
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ruth Drdla-Schutting
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roni Hogri
- Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Seiglie MP, Lepeak L, Miracle S, Cottone P, Sabino V. Stimulation of lateral parabrachial (LPB) to central amygdala (CeA) pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) neurons induces anxiety-like behavior and mechanical allodynia. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 230:173605. [PMID: 37499765 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, and they are highly comorbid with chronic pain conditions. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is known not only for its role in the regulation of anxiety but also as an important site for the negative affective dimension of pain. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), a neuropeptide whose terminals are abundant in the CeA, is strongly implicated in the stress response as well as in pain processing. Here, using Cre-dependent viral vectors, we explored in greater detail the role of the PACAP projection to the CeA that originates in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB). METHODS We first performed a circuit mapping experiment by injecting an anterograde Cre-dependent virus expressing a fluorescent reporter in the LPB of PACAP-Cre mice and observing their projections. Then, we used a chemogenetic approach (a Cre-dependent Designer Receptors Activated by Designer Drugs, DREADDs) to assess the effects of the direct stimulation of the PACAP LPB to CeA projection on general locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior (using a defensive withdrawal test), and mechanical pain sensitivity (using the von Frey test). RESULTS We found that the CeA, together with other areas, is one of the major downstream projection targets of PACAP neurons originating in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB). In the DREADD experiment, we then found that the selective activation of this neuronal pathway is sufficient to increase both anxiety-like behavior and mechanical pain sensitivity in mice, without affecting general locomotor activity. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our data suggest that the dysregulation of this circuit may contribute to a variety of anxiety disorders and chronic pain states, and that PACAP may represent an important therapeutic target for the treatment of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariel P Seiglie
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren Lepeak
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sophia Miracle
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pietro Cottone
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Valentina Sabino
- Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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Warfield AE, Gupta P, Ruhmann MM, Jeffs QL, Guidone GC, Rhymes HW, Thompson MI, Todd WD. A brainstem to circadian system circuit links Tau pathology to sundowning-related disturbances in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5027. [PMID: 37596279 PMCID: PMC10439113 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40546-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients exhibit progressive disruption of entrained circadian rhythms and an aberrant circadian input pathway may underlie such dysfunction. Here we examine AD-related pathology and circadian dysfunction in the APPSwe-Tau (TAPP) model of AD. We show these mice exhibit phase delayed body temperature and locomotor activity with increases around the active-to-rest phase transition. Similar AD-related disruptions are associated with sundowning, characterized by late afternoon and early evening agitation and aggression, and we show TAPP mice exhibit increased aggression around this transition. We show such circadian dysfunction and aggression coincide with hyperphosphorylated Tau (pTau) development in lateral parabrachial (LPB) neurons, with these disturbances appearing earlier in females. Finally, we show LPB neurons, including those expressing dynorphin (LPBdyn), project to circadian structures and are affected by pTau, and LPBdyn ablations partially recapitulate the hyperthermia of TAPP mice. Altogether we link pTau in a brainstem circadian input pathway to AD-related disturbances relevant to sundowning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Warfield
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Pooja Gupta
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Madison M Ruhmann
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Quiana L Jeffs
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Genevieve C Guidone
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Hannah W Rhymes
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - McKenzi I Thompson
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - William D Todd
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
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De Preter CC, Heinricher MM. Direct and Indirect Nociceptive Input from the Trigeminal Dorsal Horn to Pain-Modulating Neurons in the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5779-5791. [PMID: 37487738 PMCID: PMC10423049 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0680-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is able to amplify or suppress nociceptive signals by means of descending projections to the spinal and trigeminal dorsal horns from the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Two physiologically defined cell classes within RVM, "ON-cells" and "OFF-cells," respectively facilitate and inhibit nociceptive transmission. However, sensory pathways through which nociceptive input drives changes in RVM cell activity are only now being defined. We recently showed that indirect inputs from the dorsal horn via the parabrachial complex (PB) convey nociceptive information to RVM. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there are also direct dorsal horn inputs to RVM pain-modulating neurons. We focused on the trigeminal dorsal horn, which conveys sensory input from the face and head, and used a combination of single-cell recording with optogenetic activation and inhibition of projections to RVM and PB from the trigeminal interpolaris-caudalis transition zone (Vi/Vc) in male and female rats. We determined that a direct projection from ventral Vi/Vc to RVM carries nociceptive information to RVM pain-modulating neurons. This projection included a GABAergic component, which could contribute to nociceptive inhibition of OFF-cells. This approach also revealed a parallel, indirect, relay of trigeminal information to RVM via PB. Activation of the indirect pathway through PB produced a more sustained response in RVM compared with activation of the direct projection from Vi/Vc. These data demonstrate that a direct trigeminal output conveys nociceptive information to RVM pain-modulating neurons with a parallel indirect pathway through the parabrachial complex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) pain-modulating neurons respond to noxious stimulation, which implies that they receive input from pain-transmission circuits. However, the traditional view has been that there is no direct input to RVM pain-modulating neurons from the dorsal horn, and that nociceptive information is carried by indirect pathways. Indeed, we recently showed that noxious information can reach RVM pain-modulating neurons via the parabrachial complex (PB). Using in vivo electrophysiology and optogenetics, the present study identified a direct relay of nociceptive information from the trigeminal dorsal horn to physiologically identified pain-modulating neurons in RVM. Combined tracing and electrophysiology data revealed that the direct projection includes GABAergic neurons. Direct and indirect pathways may play distinct functional roles in recruiting pain-modulating neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlynn C De Preter
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Mary M Heinricher
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239
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Smith JA, Ji Y, Lorsung R, Breault MS, Koenig J, Cramer N, Masri R, Keller A. Parabrachial Nucleus Activity in Nociception and Pain in Awake Mice. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5656-5667. [PMID: 37451980 PMCID: PMC10401640 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0587-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The parabrachial nuclear complex (PBN) is a nexus for aversion and for the sensory and affective components of pain perception. We have previously shown that during chronic pain PBN neurons in anesthetized rodents have amplified activity. We report a method to record from PBN neurons of behaving, head-restrained mice while applying reproducible noxious stimuli. We find that both spontaneous and evoked activity are higher in awake animals compared with urethane anesthetized mice. Fiber photometry of calcium responses from calcitonin-gene-related peptide-expressing PBN neurons demonstrates that these neurons respond to noxious stimuli. In both males and females with neuropathic or inflammatory pain, responses of PBN neurons remain amplified for at least 5 weeks, in parallel with increased pain metrics. We also show that PBN neurons can be rapidly conditioned to respond to innocuous stimuli after pairing with noxious stimuli. Finally, we demonstrate that changes in PBN neuronal activity are correlated with changes in arousal, measured as changes in pupil area.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The parabrachial complex is a nexus of aversion, including pain. We report a method to record from parabrachial nucleus neurons of behaving mice while applying reproducible noxious stimuli. This allowed us to track parabrachial activity over time in animals with neuropathic or inflammatory pain. It also allowed us to show that the activity of these neurons correlates with arousal states and that these neurons can be conditioned to respond to innocuous stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse A Smith
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Yadong Ji
- Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-1786
| | - Rebecca Lorsung
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Macauley S Breault
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Jeffrey Koenig
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Nathan Cramer
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Radi Masri
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
- Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-1786
| | - Asaf Keller
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
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Wu L, Wu Y, Liu J, Jiang J, Zhou C, Zhang D. Sodium Leak Channel in Glutamatergic Neurons of the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus Modulates Inflammatory Pain in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11907. [PMID: 37569281 PMCID: PMC10418977 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated excitability of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL) is associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory pain, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Sodium leak channel (NALCN) is widely expressed in the central nervous system and regulates neuronal excitability. In this study, chemogenetic manipulation was used to explore the association between the activity of PBL glutamatergic neurons and pain thresholds. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was used to construct an inflammatory pain model in mice. Pain behaviour was tested using von Frey filaments and Hargreaves tests. Local field potential (LFP) was used to record the activity of PBL glutamatergic neurons. Gene knockdown techniques were used to investigate the role of NALCN in inflammatory pain. We further explored the downstream projections of PBL using cis-trans-synaptic tracer virus. The results showed that chemogenetic inhibition of PBL glutamatergic neurons increased pain thresholds in mice, whereas chemogenetic activation produced the opposite results. CFA plantar modelling increased the number of C-Fos protein and NALCN expression in PBL glutamatergic neurons. Knockdown of NALCN in PBL glutamatergic neurons alleviated CFA-induced pain. CFA injection induced C-Fos protein expression in central nucleus amygdala (CeA) neurons, which was suppressed by NALCN knockdown in PBL glutamatergic neurons. Therefore, elevated expression of NALCN in PBL glutamatergic neurons contributes to the development of inflammatory pain via PBL-CeA projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (L.W.); (Y.W.); (J.L.); (J.J.)
- Laboratory of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yujie Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (L.W.); (Y.W.); (J.L.); (J.J.)
- Laboratory of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (L.W.); (Y.W.); (J.L.); (J.J.)
- Laboratory of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jingyao Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (L.W.); (Y.W.); (J.L.); (J.J.)
- Laboratory of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Cheng Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (L.W.); (Y.W.); (J.L.); (J.J.)
- Laboratory of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Donghang Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (L.W.); (Y.W.); (J.L.); (J.J.)
- Laboratory of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Funahashi H, Pavlenko D, Sakai K, Verpile R, Sanders KM, Akiyama T. Dynorphinergic Projections from the Central Amygdala to the Parabrachial Nucleus Regulate Itch. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5340-5349. [PMID: 37399333 PMCID: PMC10359027 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0726-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala plays a key role in the processing of itch and pain signals as well as emotion. A previous study revealed that the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA)-parabrachial nucleus (PBN) pathway is involved in pain regulation. The same pathway might also control itch. To test this possibility, prodynorphin (Pdyn)-Cre mice were used to optogenetically manipulate Pdyn+ CeA-to-PBN projections. We found that optogenetic stimulation of Pdyn+ amygdala neurons or Pdyn+ CeA-to-PBN projections inhibited histamine-evoked and chloroquine-evoked scratching. The number of Fos-positive neurons in the PBN increased following intradermal injection of chloroquine. Optogenetic stimulation of Pdyn+ CeA-to-PBN projections suppressed the increase in Fos expression in the PBN. Optogenetic stimulation of Pdyn+ CeA-to-PBN projections increased thermal and mechanical thresholds without affecting anxiety-like behavior. These results highlight the importance of dynorphinergic projections from the central amygdala to the parabrachial nucleus in the regulation of itch signaling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA)-parabrachial nucleus (PBN) pathway regulates pain signaling. Using prodynorphin (Pdyn)-cre mice, we investigated the role of Pdyn+ CeA-to-PBN projections in itch. Optogenetic stimulation of Pdyn+ CeA-to-PBN projections inhibited pruritogen-evoked scratching and neuronal activity (c-Fos expression) in the PBN. Together, dynorphinergic projections from the central amygdala to the parabrachial nucleus are important for regulating itch information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Funahashi
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki 5200, Japan
| | - Darya Pavlenko
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Kent Sakai
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Rebecca Verpile
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Kristen M Sanders
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Tasuku Akiyama
- Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
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42
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Yahiro T, Kataoka N, Nakamura K. Two Ascending Thermosensory Pathways from the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus That Mediate Behavioral and Autonomous Thermoregulation. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5221-5240. [PMID: 37339876 PMCID: PMC10342230 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0643-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermoregulatory behavior in homeothermic animals is an innate behavior to defend body core temperature from environmental thermal challenges in coordination with autonomous thermoregulatory responses. In contrast to the progress in understanding the central mechanisms of autonomous thermoregulation, those of behavioral thermoregulation remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) mediates cutaneous thermosensory afferent signaling for thermoregulation. To understand the thermosensory neural network for behavioral thermoregulation, in the present study, we investigated the roles of ascending thermosensory pathways from the LPB in avoidance behavior from innocuous heat and cold in male rats. Neuronal tracing revealed two segregated groups of LPB neurons projecting to the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), a thermoregulatory center (LPB→MnPO neurons), and those projecting to the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA), a limbic emotion center (LPB→CeA neurons). While LPB→MnPO neurons include separate subgroups activated by heat or cold exposure of rats, LPB→CeA neurons were only activated by cold exposure. By selectively inhibiting LPB→MnPO or LPB→CeA neurons using tetanus toxin light chain or chemogenetic or optogenetic techniques, we found that LPB→MnPO transmission mediates heat avoidance, whereas LPB→CeA transmission contributes to cold avoidance. In vivo electrophysiological experiments showed that skin cooling-evoked thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue requires not only LPB→MnPO neurons but also LPB→CeA neurons, providing a novel insight into the central mechanism of autonomous thermoregulation. Our findings reveal an important framework of central thermosensory afferent pathways to coordinate behavioral and autonomous thermoregulation and to generate the emotions of thermal comfort and discomfort that drive thermoregulatory behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Coordination of behavioral and autonomous thermoregulation is important for maintaining thermal homeostasis in homeothermic animals. However, the central mechanism of thermoregulatory behaviors remains poorly understood. We have previously shown that the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) mediates ascending thermosensory signaling that drives thermoregulatory behavior. In this study, we found that one pathway from the LPB to the median preoptic nucleus mediates heat avoidance, whereas the other pathway from the LPB to the central amygdaloid nucleus is required for cold avoidance. Surprisingly, both pathways are required for skin cooling-evoked thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, an autonomous thermoregulatory response. This study provides a central thermosensory network that coordinates behavioral and autonomous thermoregulation and generates thermal comfort and discomfort that drive thermoregulatory behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaki Yahiro
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Naoya Kataoka
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
- Nagoya University Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
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43
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Nguyen E, Grajales-Reyes JG, Gereau RW, Ross SE. Cell type-specific dissection of sensory pathways involved in descending modulation. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:539-550. [PMID: 37164868 PMCID: PMC10836406 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Decades of research have suggested that stimulation of supraspinal structures, such as the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), inhibits nocifensive responses to noxious stimulation through a process known as descending modulation. Electrical stimulation and pharmacologic manipulations of the PAG and RVM identified transmitters and neuronal firing patterns that represented distinct cell types. Advances in mouse genetics, in vivo imaging, and circuit tracing methods, in addition to chemogenetic and optogenetic approaches, allowed the characterization of the cells and circuits involved in descending modulation in further detail. Recent work has revealed the importance of PAG and RVM neuronal cell types in the descending modulation of pruriceptive as well as nociceptive behaviors, underscoring their roles in coordinating complex behavioral responses to sensory input. This review summarizes how new technical advances that enable cell type-specific manipulation and recording of neuronal activity have supported, as well as expanded, long-standing views on descending modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Nguyen
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jose G Grajales-Reyes
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Robert W Gereau
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sarah E Ross
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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44
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Neugebauer V, Presto P, Yakhnitsa V, Antenucci N, Mendoza B, Ji G. Pain-related cortico-limbic plasticity and opioid signaling. Neuropharmacology 2023; 231:109510. [PMID: 36944393 PMCID: PMC10585936 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Neuroplasticity in cortico-limbic circuits has been implicated in pain persistence and pain modulation in clinical and preclinical studies. The amygdala has emerged as a key player in the emotional-affective dimension of pain and pain modulation. Reciprocal interactions with medial prefrontal cortical regions undergo changes in pain conditions. Other limbic and paralimbic regions have been implicated in pain modulation as well. The cortico-limbic system is rich in opioids and opioid receptors. Preclinical evidence for their pain modulatory effects in different regions of this highly interactive system, potentially opposing functions of different opioid receptors, and knowledge gaps will be described here. There is little information about cell type- and circuit-specific functions of opioid receptor subtypes related to pain processing and pain-related plasticity in the cortico-limbic system. The important role of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and amygdala in MOR-dependent analgesia is most well-established, and MOR actions in the mesolimbic system appear to be similar but remain to be determined in mPFC regions other than ACC. Evidence also suggests that KOR signaling generally serves opposing functions whereas DOR signaling in the ACC has similar, if not synergistic effects, to MOR. A unifying picture of pain-related neuronal mechanisms of opioid signaling in different elements of the cortico-limbic circuitry has yet to emerge. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Opioid-induced changes in addiction and pain circuits".
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Garrison Institute on Aging, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
| | - Peyton Presto
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Vadim Yakhnitsa
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Nico Antenucci
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Brianna Mendoza
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Guangchen Ji
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
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45
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He W, Liang L, Zhang Y. Pungency Perception and the Interaction with Basic Taste Sensations: An Overview. Foods 2023; 12:2317. [PMID: 37372528 DOI: 10.3390/foods12122317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The perception of pungency can be attributed to the combination of pain and heat, and it has critical impacts on food flavor and food consumption preferences. Many studies have reported a variety of pungent ingredients with different Scoville heat units (SHU), and the mechanism of pungent perception was revealed in vivo and in vitro. The worldwide use of spices containing pungent ingredients has led to an increasing awareness of their effects on basic tastes. However, the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception based on structure-activity relationship, taste perception mechanism and neurotransmission lacks review and summary, considering its brighter prospects in food flavor. Thus, in this review, common pungency substances and pungency evaluation methods, and the mechanism of pungency perception is presented, and the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception and the possible factors of their interaction are reviewed in detail. Pungent stimuli are mainly transduced through transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential fixed hormone isoform (TRPA1) activated by stimulants. Using modern detection techniques combined with sensory standards, different substances produce different degrees of pungent stimulation, ranging from 104 to 107 SHU/g. Pungent stimuli can affect taste receptor or channel protein conformation and regulate taste bud cell sensitivity by producing neurotransmission products. The products of neurotransmission and taste receptor cell activation in turn act on taste perception. When there are simultaneous effects of taste perception, pungency stimulation may enhance the perception of salty at a certain concentration, with a mutual inhibition effect with sour, sweet, and bitter taste, while its interaction with umami taste is not obvious. However, due to the complexity of perception and the uncertainty of many perceptual receptors or channels, the current studies of interactions are still controversial. Based on the understanding of the mechanism and influencing factors, the availability of pungency substances is proposed in the perspective of food industry in order to achieve new development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Li Liang
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Yuyu Zhang
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
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Zhang Y, Huang X, Xin WJ, He S, Deng J, Ruan X. Somatostatin Neurons from Periaqueductal Gray to Medulla Facilitate Neuropathic Pain in Male Mice. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:1020-1029. [PMID: 36641028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Projections from the periaqueductal gray (PAG) to the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) are known to engage in descending pain modulation, but how the neural substrates of the PAG-RVM projections contribute to neuropathic pain remains largely unknown. In this study, we showed somatostatin-expressing glutamatergic neurons in the lateral/ventrolateral PAG that facilitate mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. We found that these neurons form direct excitatory connections with neurons in the RVM region. Inhibition of this PAG-RVM projection alleviates mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity associated with neuropathy, whereas its activation enhances hypersensitivity in the mice. Thus, our findings revealed that somatostatin neurons within the PAG-RVM axial are crucial for descending pain facilitation and can potentially be exploited as a useful therapeutic target for neuropathic pain. PERSPECTIVE: We report the profound contribution of somatostatin neurons within the PAG-RVM projections to descending pain facilitation underlying neuropathic pain. These results may help to develop central therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehong Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuelin Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Jun Xin
- Zhongshan Medical School and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shilang He
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Deng
- Zhongshan Medical School and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiangcai Ruan
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Jagot F, Gaston-Breton R, Choi AJ, Pascal M, Bourhy L, Dorado-Doncel R, Conzelmann KK, Lledo PM, Lepousez G, Eberl G. The parabrachial nucleus elicits a vigorous corticosterone feedback response to the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Neuron 2023:S0896-6273(23)00382-3. [PMID: 37279750 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The central nervous system regulates systemic immune responses by integrating the physiological and behavioral constraints faced by an individual. Corticosterone (CS), the release of which is controlled in the hypothalamus by the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), is a potent negative regulator of immune responses. Using the mouse model, we report that the parabrachial nucleus (PB), an important hub linking interoceptive afferent information to autonomic and behavioral responses, also integrates the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β signal to induce the CS response. A subpopulation of PB neurons, directly projecting to the PVN and receiving inputs from the vagal complex (VC), responds to IL-1β to drive the CS response. Pharmacogenetic reactivation of these IL-1β-activated PB neurons is sufficient to induce CS-mediated systemic immunosuppression. Our findings demonstrate an efficient brainstem-encoded modality for the central sensing of cytokines and the regulation of systemic immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Jagot
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Inserm U1224, Microenvironment and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Perception and Memory Unit, 75015 Paris, France; PhD Program, Ecole Doctorale Bio Sorbonne Paris Cité (BioSpc), Université de Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Romane Gaston-Breton
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Inserm U1224, Microenvironment and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Ana Jeemin Choi
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Inserm U1224, Microenvironment and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France; PhD Program, Ecole Doctorale Bio Sorbonne Paris Cité (BioSpc), Université de Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Maud Pascal
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Inserm U1224, Microenvironment and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Perception and Memory Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Lena Bourhy
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Perception and Memory Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Romane Dorado-Doncel
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Inserm U1224, Microenvironment and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Karl-Klaus Conzelmann
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty and Gene Center, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Pierre-Marie Lledo
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Perception and Memory Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Gabriel Lepousez
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3571, Perception and Memory Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Gérard Eberl
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Inserm U1224, Microenvironment and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France.
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48
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Pan Q, Guo SS, Chen M, Su XY, Gao ZL, Wang Q, Xu TL, Liu MG, Hu J. Representation and control of pain and itch by distinct prefrontal neural ensembles. Neuron 2023:S0896-6273(23)00342-2. [PMID: 37224813 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Pain and itch are two closely related but essentially distinct sensations that elicit different behavioral responses. However, it remains mysterious how pain and itch information is encoded in the brain to produce differential perceptions. Here, we report that nociceptive and pruriceptive signals are separately represented and processed by distinct neural ensembles in the prelimbic (PL) subdivision of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice. Pain- and itch-responsive cortical neural ensembles were found to significantly differ in electrophysiological properties, input-output connectivity profiles, and activity patterns to nociceptive or pruriceptive stimuli. Moreover, these two groups of cortical neural ensembles oppositely modulate pain- or itch-related sensory and emotional behaviors through their preferential projections to specific downstream regions such as the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) and basolateral amygdala (BLA). These findings uncover separate representations of pain and itch by distinct prefrontal neural ensembles and provide a new framework for understanding somatosensory information processing in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Pan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Su-Shan Guo
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ming Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xin-Yu Su
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zi-Long Gao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Tian-Le Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Songjiang Hospital and Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201600, China; Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Ming-Gang Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Ji Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200030, China.
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Li JN, Wu XM, Zhao LJ, Sun HX, Hong J, Wu FL, Chen SH, Chen T, Li H, Dong YL, Li YQ. Central medial thalamic nucleus dynamically participates in acute itch sensation and chronic itch-induced anxiety-like behavior in male mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2539. [PMID: 37137899 PMCID: PMC10156671 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38264-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Itch is an annoying sensation consisting of both sensory and emotional components. It is known to involve the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), but the following transmission nodes remain elusive. The present study identified that the PBN-central medial thalamic nucleus (CM)-medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) pathway is essential for itch signal transmission at the supraspinal level in male mice. Chemogenetic inhibition of the CM-mPFC pathway attenuates scratching behavior or chronic itch-related affective responses. CM input to mPFC pyramidal neurons is enhanced in acute and chronic itch models. Specifically chronic itch stimuli also alter mPFC interneuron involvement, resulting in enhanced feedforward inhibition and a distorted excitatory/inhibitory balance in mPFC pyramidal neurons. The present work underscores CM as a transmit node of the itch signal in the thalamus, which is dynamically engaged in both the sensory and affective dimensions of itch with different stimulus salience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ni Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xue-Mei Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
- Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liu-Jie Zhao
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Han-Xue Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
- Department of Human Anatomy, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Jie Hong
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014040, China
| | - Feng-Ling Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Si-Hai Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yu-Lin Dong
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Yun-Qing Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
- Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- Department of Human Anatomy, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China.
- Department of Human Anatomy, Baotou Medical College Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014040, China.
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Bucsea O, Rupawala M, Shiff I, Wang X, Meek J, Fitzgerald M, Fabrizi L, Pillai Riddell R, Jones L. Clinical thresholds in pain-related facial activity linked to differences in cortical network activation in neonates. Pain 2023; 164:1039-1050. [PMID: 36633530 PMCID: PMC10108588 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT In neonates, a noxious stimulus elicits pain-related facial expression changes and distinct brain activity as measured by electroencephalography, but past research has revealed an inconsistent relationship between these responses. Facial activity is the most commonly used index of neonatal pain in clinical settings, with clinical thresholds determining if analgesia should be provided; however, we do not know if these thresholds are associated with differences in how the neonatal brain processes a noxious stimulus. The objective of this study was to examine whether subclinical vs clinically significant levels of pain-related facial activity are related to differences in the pattern of nociceptive brain activity in preterm and term neonates. We recorded whole-head electroencephalography and video in 78 neonates (0-14 days postnatal age) after a clinically required heel lance. Using an optimal constellation of Neonatal Facial Coding System actions (brow bulge, eye squeeze, and nasolabial furrow), we compared the serial network engagement (microstates) between neonates with and without clinically significant pain behaviour. Results revealed a sequence of nociceptive cortical network activation that was independent of pain-related behavior; however, a separate but interleaved sequence of early activity was related to the magnitude of the immediate behavioural response. Importantly, the degree of pain-related behavior is related to how the brain processes a stimulus and not simply the degree of cortical activation. This suggests that neonates who exhibit clinically significant pain behaviours process the stimulus differently and that neonatal pain-related behaviours reflect just a portion of the overall cortical pain response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oana Bucsea
- Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammed Rupawala
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ilana Shiff
- Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xiaogang Wang
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Judith Meek
- University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Fitzgerald
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Fabrizi
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Pillai Riddell
- Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Laura Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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