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Wang L, Liu X, Zhu C, Wu S, Li Z, Jing L, Zhang Z, Jing Y, Wang Y. Environmental enrichment alleviates hyperalgesia by modulating central sensitization in a nitroglycerin-induced chronic migraine model of mice. J Headache Pain 2024; 25:74. [PMID: 38724948 PMCID: PMC11083806 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-024-01779-2] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic migraine (CM) is a debilitating neurofunctional disorder primarily affecting females, characterized by central sensitization. Central sensitization refers to the enhanced response to sensory stimulation, which involves changes in neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmitter release. Environmental enrichment (EE) can increase the movement, exploration, socialization and other behaviors of mice. EE has shown promising effects in various neurological disorders, but its impact on CM and the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether EE has the potential to serve as a cost-effective intervention strategy for CM. METHODS A mouse CM model was successfully established by repeated administration of nitroglycerin (NTG). We selected adult female mice around 8 weeks old, exposed them to EE for 2 months, and then induced the CM model. Nociceptive threshold tests were measured using Von Frey filaments and a hot plate. The expression of c-Fos, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and inflammatory response were measured using WB and immunofluorescence to evaluate central sensitization. RNA sequencing was used to find differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways. Finally, the expression of the target differential gene was investigated. RESULTS Repeated administration of NTG can induce hyperalgesia in female mice and increase the expression of c-Fos and CGRP in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). Early exposure of mice to EE reduced NTG-induced hyperalgesia in CM mice. WB and immunofluorescence revealed that EE inhibited the overexpression of c-Fos and CGRP in the TNC of CM mice and alleviated the inflammatory response of microglia activation. RNA sequencing analysis identified that several central sensitization-related signaling pathways were altered by EE. VGluT1, a key gene involved in behavior, internal stimulus response, and ion channel activity, was found to be downregulated in mice exposed to EE. CONCLUSION EE can significantly ameliorate hyperalgesia in the NTG-induced CM model. The mechanisms may be to modulate central sensitization by reducing the expression of CGRP, attenuating the inflammatory response, and downregulating the expression of VGluT1, etc., suggesting that EE can serve as an effective preventive strategy for CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gate, No. 82 Linxia Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- Institute of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Chenlu Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gate, No. 82 Linxia Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shouyi Wu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gate, No. 82 Linxia Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhilei Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gate, No. 82 Linxia Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Lipeng Jing
- Institute of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhenchang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gate, No. 82 Linxia Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yuhong Jing
- Institute of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gate, No. 82 Linxia Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
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Parent-Vachon M, Beaudry F, Carrier D, Di Cristo G, Vachon P. The Effects of Exercise on Pain and Reproductive Performance in Female Pregnant Mice With Neuropathic Pain. Biol Res Nurs 2019; 21:500-509. [PMID: 31288563 DOI: 10.1177/1099800419857812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pain can have negative, physiological and psychological impacts on pregnancy. Pregnant women are fearful of using pain medication because of teratogenic effects. In this study, we evaluated whether exercise could lower pain sensitivity in pregnant mice with neuropathic pain and reduce the negative effects of maternal pain on newborns. We randomly assigned 32 female mice to one of four groups (eight mice/group): Sham surgery with standard environment (SE) or enriched environment (EE) or spare nerve injury (SNI) with SE or EE. Mice in EE groups had access to an exercise wheel. Mothers were evaluated for mechanical sensitivity with Von Frey filaments and for exercise performance with computerized running wheels. Mice were impregnated 2 weeks after the initiation of EE. Pups were weighed and measured for length at birth and evaluated for negative geotaxis, righting, forelimb grasping, rooting, and crawling at 3 days postpartum and for crawling at 6 days postpartum. Following euthanasia, mothers' frontal cortexes were analyzed for selected neuropeptides. After exercise exposure, only SNI-SE females remained neuropathic. Exercise levels were similar between EE groups. Some brain neuropeptides (endorphins, enkephalins, and oxytocin) from SNI females showed significant differences with exercise. Number of pups was significantly smaller in the SNI-SE group. Significantly more pups died at birth in the SNI-SE group, but pup behavior tests (except righting) were similar across groups. Exercise can reduce neuropathic pain in pregnant mice. Neuropathic pain does not impact motor neurodevelopment of mice pups but does appear to affect litter size and neonatal mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Parent-Vachon
- 1 Department of Veterinary Biomedicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - Francis Beaudry
- 1 Department of Veterinary Biomedicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - Denise Carrier
- 2 Ste-Justine Children's Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Graziella Di Cristo
- 2 Ste-Justine Children's Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pascal Vachon
- 1 Department of Veterinary Biomedicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
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Gong X, Chen Y, Chang J, Huang Y, Cai M, Zhang M. Environmental enrichment reduces adolescent anxiety- and depression-like behaviors of rats subjected to infant nerve injury. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:262. [PMID: 30208926 PMCID: PMC6134705 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1301-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Infant nerve injury causes delayed adolescent neuropathic pain, but whether it also leads to psychiatric illness is unknown. Environmental enrichment (EE) increases social communication and activity. Thus, our goal was to test anxiety- and depression-like behaviors after infant peripheral nerve injury and evaluate the effect of environmental enrichment on these models of affective disorders. Methods Open field, elevated plus maze, sucrose preference, and pain behaviors (paw withdrawal threshold, spontaneous guarding score, and cold response to acetone) were measured in rats that received infant spared nerve injury (SNI). Enzyme-linked immune absorbent assay of cytokines was performed to evaluate the inflammatory response in the brain. Then, the ability of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of a microglia inhibitor, minocycline (MIN), and EE (a free-running wheel, a staircase, a plastic tunnel, a raised platform, and various colored balls) to reverse the infant SNI effects on behaviors and cytokines was examined. Results Infant nerve injury resulted in adolescent anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. The medial prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala, and ventral hippocampus were skewed to a pro-inflammatory profile. ICV injection of MIN reduced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors without affecting pain behaviors. In addition, ICV MIN skewed the brain towards an anti-inflammatory profile. Finally, environmental enrichment improved anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, as well as pain behaviors. EE increased brain IL-10 and decreased IL-1β and TNF-α. Conclusions Infant nerve injury induces adolescent anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and central nervous inflammation. Environmental enrichment reduces these behaviors by normalizing the inflammation balance in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingrui Gong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, 200127, Shanghai, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Shiyan Taihe Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan, Hubei, China.,Institute of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Shiyan Taihe Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Yongmei Chen
- Department of Laboratory, Shiyan Taihe Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Chang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, 200127, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, 200127, Shanghai, China
| | - Meihau Cai
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, 200127, Shanghai, China
| | - Mazhong Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, 200127, Shanghai, China.
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