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Jiang Z, He M, Young C, Cai J, Xu Y, Jiang Y, Li H, Yang M, Tong Q. Dopaminergic Neurons in Zona Incerta Drives Appetitive Self-Grooming. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2308974. [PMID: 39099402 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Dopaminergic (DA) neurons are known to play a key role in controlling behaviors. While DA neurons in other brain regions are extensively characterized, those in zona incerta (ZITH or A13) receive much less attention and their function remains to be defined. Here it is shown that optogenetic stimulation of these neurons elicited intensive self-grooming behaviors and promoted place preference, which can be enhanced by training but cannot be converted into contextual memory. Interestingly, the same stimulation increased DA release to periaqueductal grey (PAG) neurons and local PAG antagonism of DA action reduced the elicited self-grooming. In addition, A13 neurons increased their activity in response to various external stimuli and during natural self-grooming episodes. Finally, monosynaptic retrograde tracing showed that the paraventricular hypothalamus represents one of the major upstream brain regions to A13 neurons. Taken together, these results reveal that A13 neurons are one of the brain sites that promote appetitive self-grooming involving DA release to the PAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Jiang
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Michelle He
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Summer Undergraduate Research Program, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Claire Young
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jing Cai
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center & UTHealth Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yuanzhong Xu
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yanyan Jiang
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hongli Li
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Maojie Yang
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Qingchun Tong
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center & UTHealth Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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Li J, Peng S, Zhang Y, Ge J, Gao S, Zhu Y, Bai Y, Wu S, Huang J. Glutamatergic Neurons in the Zona Incerta Modulate Pain and Itch Behaviors in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5866-5877. [PMID: 37354250 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03431-7] [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: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggest that parvalbumin neurons in zona incerta (ZI) modulate pain and itch behavior in opposite manners. However, the role of ZI glutamatergic neurons, a unique incertal neuronal subpopulation residing in the caudal division, in pain and itch modulation remains unknown. In the present study, by combining chemogenetic manipulation, fiber photometry, and behavioral tests, we proved that incertal glutamatergic neurons served as an endogenous negative diencephalic modulator for both pain and itch processing. We demonstrated that ZI vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2) neurons exhibited increased calcium signal upon hindpaw withdrawal in response to experimental mechanical and thermal stimuli. Behavioral tests further showed that pharmacogenetic activation of this specific type of neurons reduced nocifensive withdrawal responses in both naïve and inflammatory pain mice. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of ZI VGluT2 neurons were also observed upon histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch stimuli. Together, our study would expedite our understandings of brain mechanisms underlying somatosensory processing and modulation, and supply a novel therapeutic target for the management of chronic pain and itch disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Shihao Peng
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Junye Ge
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Shasha Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110015, China.
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical Science Academy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Askari A, Lam JLW, Zhu BJ, Lu CW, Chou KL, Wyant KJ, Patil PG. Dorsal subthalamic deep brain stimulation improves pain in Parkinson's disease. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1240379. [PMID: 37663307 PMCID: PMC10469498 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1240379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Inconsistent effects of subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) on pain, a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), may be due to variations in active contact location relative to some pain-reducing locus of stimulation. This study models and compares the loci of maximal effect for pain reduction and motor improvement in STN DBS. Methods We measured Movement Disorder Society Unified PD Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part I pain score (item-9), and MDS-UPDRS Part III motor score, preoperatively and 6-12 months after STN DBS. An ordinary least-squares regression model was used to examine active contact location as a predictor of follow-up pain score while controlling for baseline pain, age, dopaminergic medication, and motor improvement. An atlas-independent isotropic electric field model was applied to distinguish sites of maximally effective stimulation for pain and motor improvement. Results In 74 PD patients, mean pain score significantly improved after STN DBS (p = 0.01). In a regression model, more dorsal active contact location was the only significant predictor of pain improvement (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.03). The stimulation locus for maximal pain improvement was lateral, anterior, and dorsal to that for maximal motor improvement. Conclusion STN stimulation, dorsal to the site of optimal motor improvement, improves pain. This region contains the zona incerta, which is known to modulate pain in humans, and may explain this observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asra Askari
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jordan L. W. Lam
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Brandon J. Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Charles W. Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kelvin L. Chou
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kara J. Wyant
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Parag G. Patil
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Chen F, Qian J, Cao Z, Li A, Cui J, Shi L, Xie J. Chemogenetic and optogenetic stimulation of zona incerta GABAergic neurons ameliorates motor impairment in Parkinson's disease. iScience 2023; 26:107149. [PMID: 37416450 PMCID: PMC10319825 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and leads to progressive motor dysfunction. While studies have focused on the basal ganglia network, recent evidence suggests neuronal systems outside the basal ganglia are also related to PD pathogenesis. The zona incerta (ZI) is a predominantly inhibitory subthalamic region for global behavioral modulation. This study investigates the role of GABAergic neurons in the ZI in a mouse model of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD. First, we found a decrease in GABA-positive neurons in the ZI, and then the mice used chemogenetic/optogenetic stimulation to activate or inhibit GABAergic neurons. The motor performance of PD mice was significantly improved by chemogenetic/optogenetic activation of GABAergic neurons, and repeated chemogenetic activation of ZI GABAergic neurons increased the dopamine content in the striatum. Our work identifies the role of ZI GABAergic neurons in regulating motor behaviors in 6-OHDA-lesioned PD model mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Chen
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Junliang Qian
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhongkai Cao
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Juntao Cui
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Limin Shi
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Junxia Xie
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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Wu FL, Chen SH, Li JN, Zhao LJ, Wu XM, Hong J, Zhu KH, Sun HX, Shi SJ, Mao E, Zang WD, Cao J, Kou ZZ, Li YQ. Projections from the Rostral Zona Incerta to the Thalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Mediate Nociceptive Neurotransmission in Mice. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13020226. [PMID: 36837844 PMCID: PMC9966812 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Zona incerta (ZI) is an integrative subthalamic region in nociceptive neurotransmission. Previous studies demonstrated that the rostral ZI (ZIR) is an important gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) source to the thalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVT), but whether the ZIR-PVT pathway participates in nociceptive modulation is still unclear. Therefore, our investigation utilized anatomical tracing, fiber photometry, chemogenetic, optogenetic and local pharmacological approaches to investigate the roles of the ZIRGABA+-PVT pathway in nociceptive neurotransmission in mice. We found that projections from the GABAergic neurons in ZIR to PVT were involved in nociceptive neurotransmission. Furthermore, chemogenetic and optogenetic activation of the ZIRGABA+-PVT pathway alleviates pain, whereas inhibiting the activities of the ZIRGABA+-PVT circuit induces mechanical hypersensitivity and partial heat hyperalgesia. Importantly, in vivo pharmacology combined with optogenetics revealed that the GABA-A receptor (GABAAR) is crucial for GABAergic inhibition from ZIR to PVT. Our data suggest that the ZIRGABA+-PVT pathway acts through GABAAR-expressing glutamatergic neurons in PVT mediates nociceptive neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Ling Wu
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Si-Hai Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Jia-Ni Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Liu-Jie Zhao
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Xue-Mei Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and 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 and 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
| | - Ke-Hua Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Han-Xue Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and 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
| | - Su-Juan Shi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - E Mao
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Wei-Dong Zang
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Kou
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
- Correspondence: (Z.-Z.K.); (Y.-Q.L.); Tel.: +86-29-8477-2706; Fax: +86-29-8328-3229 (Y.-Q.L.)
| | - Yun-Qing Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Preclinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
- Department of Geriatrics, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Science Research and Transformation in Tropical Environment of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
- Correspondence: (Z.-Z.K.); (Y.-Q.L.); Tel.: +86-29-8477-2706; Fax: +86-29-8328-3229 (Y.-Q.L.)
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The caudal prethalamus: Inhibitory switchboard for behavioral control? Neuron 2022; 110:2728-2742. [PMID: 36076337 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Prethalamic nuclei in the mammalian brain include the zona incerta, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, and the intergeniculate leaflet, which provide long-range inhibition to many targets in the midbrain, hindbrain, and thalamus. These nuclei in the caudal prethalamus can integrate sensory and non-sensory information, and together they exert powerful inhibitory control over a wide range of brain functions and behaviors that encompass most aspects of the behavioral repertoire of mammals, including sleep, circadian rhythms, feeding, drinking, predator avoidance, and exploration. In this perspective, we highlight the evidence for this wide-ranging control and lay out the hypothesis that one role of caudal prethalamic nuclei may be that of a behavioral switchboard that-depending on the sensory input, the behavioral context, and the state of the animal-can promote a behavioral strategy and suppress alternative, competing behaviors by modulating inhibitory drive onto diverse target areas.
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Farzinpour Z, Liu A, Cao P, Mao Y, Zhang Z, Jin Y. Microglial Engulfment of Spines in the Ventral Zona Incerta Regulates Anxiety-Like Behaviors in a Mouse Model of Acute Pain. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:898346. [PMID: 35910255 PMCID: PMC9337222 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.898346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although activation of microglial cells is critical in developing brain disorders, their role in anxiety-like behaviors in pain is still vague. This study indicates that alteration of microglia’s neuronal spine engulfment capacity in ventral zona incerta (ZIV) leads to significant pain and anxiety-like behaviors in mice 1-day post-injection of Complete Freud’s Adjuvant (CFA1D). Performing whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in GABAergic neurons in the ZIV (ZIVGABA) in brain slices, we observed decreased activity in ZIvGABA and reduced frequency of the miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in ZIVGABA of CFA1D mice compared with the saline1D mice. Besides, chemogenetic activation of ZIVGABA significantly relieved pain and anxiety-like behaviors in CFA1D mice. Conversely, in naïve mice, chemogenetic inhibition of ZIVGABA induced pain and anxiety-like behaviors. Interestingly, we found changes in the density and morphology of ZIVMicroglia and increased microglial engulfment of spines in ZIV of CFA1D mice. Furthermore, pain sensitization and anxiety-like behaviors were reversed when the ZIVMicroglia of CFA1D-treated mice were chemically inhibited by intra-ZIV minocycline injection, accompanied by the recovery of decreased ZIVGABA excitability. Conclusively, our results provide novel insights that dysregulation of microglial engulfment capacity encodes maladaptation of ZIVGABA, thus promoting the development of anxiety-like behaviors in acute pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Farzinpour
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - An Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yu Mao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Zhi Zhang,
| | - Yan Jin
- Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Yan Jin,
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Li J, Bai Y, Liang Y, Zhang Y, Zhao Q, Ge J, Li D, Zhu Y, Cai G, Tao H, Wu S, Huang J. Parvalbumin Neurons in Zona Incerta Regulate Itch in Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:843754. [PMID: 35299695 PMCID: PMC8920991 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.843754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain and itch are intricately entangled at both circuitry and behavioral levels. Emerging evidence indicates that parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons in zona incerta (ZI) are critical for promoting nocifensive behaviors. However, the role of these neurons in itch modulation remains elusive. Herein, by combining FOS immunostaining, fiber photometry, and chemogenetic manipulation, we reveal that ZI PV neurons act as an endogenous negative diencephalic modulator for itch processing. Morphological data showed that both histamine and chloroquine stimuli induced FOS expression in ZI PV neurons. The activation of these neurons was further supported by the increased calcium signal upon scratching behavior evoked by acute itch. Behavioral data further indicated that chemogenetic activation of these neurons reduced scratching behaviors related to histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of ZI PV neurons were seen in mice with chronic itch induced by atopic dermatitis. Together, our study provides direct evidence for the role of ZI PV neurons in regulating itch, and identifies a potential target for the remedy of chronic itch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Yi Liang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- The Cadet Team 6 of School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qiuying Zhao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Junye Ge
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Dangchao Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Guohong Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Huiren Tao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
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