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Gieré C, Menger Y, Illouz H, Melchior M, Lelièvre V, Poisbeau P. Towards a central origin of nociceptive hypersensitivity in adult rats after a neonatal maternal separation. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:4155-4165. [PMID: 37821102 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16170] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Early life adversities influence a nervous system still in development with long-term consequences for later life. These include nociceptive circuit alterations critical to shape an adaptive pain response to protect the organism from potential damage. Adult rats with a history of neonatal maternal separation (NMS) display visceral and somatic nociceptive hypersensitivity and inefficient analgesic responses to stress. In this study, we have characterized the consequences of NMS on wide dynamic range neurons (WDR) in the spinal cord of anaesthetized adult rats during the nociceptive processing of hot and cold noxious information. We found that WDR neurons of NMS rats display an excessive coding of mechanical and thermal information applied at the rat's hindpaws. This nicely explains the hypernociceptive behaviours seen after noxious mechanical, cold and hot peripheral stimulation. A peripheral change in the expression of molecular transducers for these stimuli (i.e., TRPV1, TRPM8 and TRPA1) does not seem to account for this general hyperexcitability. Instead, a decreased chloride-mediated inhibitory tone on WDR neurons may play a role as indicated by the abnormal elevation of the type 1 Na-K-Cl cotransporter transcripts. Altogether, we propose that long-term consequences of NMS are associated with reduced spinal cord inhibition favouring the expression of pain hypersensitivity. We cannot exclude that this phenomenon is also present at supraspinal sites, as other NMS-associated symptoms include excessive anxiety and impaired sociability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Gieré
- Centre National de la recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Ecole Universitaire de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur la Douleur, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yannick Menger
- Centre National de la recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hannah Illouz
- Centre National de la recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Ecole Universitaire de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur la Douleur, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Meggane Melchior
- Centre National de la recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire des Neurosciences Cognitive et Adaptative, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent Lelièvre
- Centre National de la recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierrick Poisbeau
- Centre National de la recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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2
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Nisbett KE, Gonzalez LA, Teruel M, Carter CS, Vendruscolo LF, Ragozzino ME, Koob GF. Sex and hormonal status influence the anxiolytic-like effect of oxytocin in mice. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 26:100567. [PMID: 37706061 PMCID: PMC10495655 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent psychiatric disorders, affecting approximately 18% of the United States population. Evidence indicates that central oxytocin mediates social cognition, social bonding, and social anxiety. Although it is well-established that oxytocin ameliorates social deficits, less is known about the therapeutic effects of oxytocin in non-social contexts. We hypothesized that positive effects of oxytocin in social contexts are attributable to intrinsic effects of oxytocin on neural systems that are related to emotion regulation. The present study investigated the effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) oxytocin administration (i.e., central action) on anxiety- and depression-like behavior in C57Bl/6J mice using non-social tests. Male and female mice received an ICV infusion of vehicle or oxytocin (100, 200, or 500 ng), then were tested in the elevated zero maze (for anxiety-like behavior) and the tail suspension test (for depression-like behavior). Oxytocin dose-dependently increased open zone occupancy and entries in the elevated zero maze and reduced immobility duration in the tail suspension test in both sexes. Oxytocin decreased anxiety and depression-like behavior in male and female mice. The observed effect of oxytocin on anxiolytic-like behavior appeared to be driven by the males. Given the smaller anxiolytic-like effect of oxytocin in the female mice and the established interaction between oxytocin and reproductive hormones (estrogen and progesterone), we also explored whether oxytocin sensitivity in females varies across estrous cycle phases and in ovariectomized females that were or were not supplemented with estrogen or progesterone. Oxytocin reduced anxiety-like behavior in female mice in proestrus/estrus, ovariectomized females (supplemented or not with estrogen or progesterone), but not females in metestrus/diestrus. Additionally, oxytocin reduced depression-like behavior in all groups tested with slight differences across the various hormonal statuses. These results suggest that the effect of oxytocin in depression- and anxiety-like behavior in mice can be influenced by sex and hormonal status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalin E. Nisbett
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Graduate College, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Neurobiology of Addiction Section, Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Stress and Addiction Neuroscience Unit, Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Luis A. Gonzalez
- Neurobiology of Addiction Section, Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Marina Teruel
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - C. Sue Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Leandro F. Vendruscolo
- Neurobiology of Addiction Section, Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Michael E. Ragozzino
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - George F. Koob
- Neurobiology of Addiction Section, Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Yang S, Zhang B, Wang D, Hu S, Wang W, Liu C, Wu Z, Yang C. Role of GABAergic system in the comorbidity of pain and depression. Brain Res Bull 2023:110691. [PMID: 37331640 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110691] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Patients with chronic pain often suffer with depressive symptoms, and these two conditions can be aggravated by each other over time, leading to an increase in symptom intensity and duration. The comorbidity of pain and depression poses a significant challenge to human health and quality of life, as it is often difficult to diagnose early and treat effectively. Therefore, exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of chronic pain and depression is crucial to identifying new therapeutic targets for treatment. However, understanding the pathogenesis of comorbidity requires examining interactions among multiple factors, which calls for an integrative perspective. While several studies have explored the role of the GABAergic system in pain and depression, fewer have examined its interactions with other systems involved in their comorbidity. Here, we review the evidence that the role of GABAergic system in the comorbidity of chronic pain and depression, as well as the interactions between the GABAergic system and other secondary systems involved in pain and depression comorbidity, providing a comprehensive understanding of their intricate interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029. China
| | - Bingyuan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 399 Hailing South Road, Taizhou City, 225300, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029. China
| | - Suwan Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029. China
| | - Wenli Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029. China
| | - Cunming Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029. China
| | - Zifeng Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029. China.
| | - Chun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029. China.
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Liu Y, Li A, Bair-Marshall C, Xu H, Jee HJ, Zhu E, Sun M, Zhang Q, Lefevre A, Chen ZS, Grinevich V, Froemke RC, Wang J. Oxytocin promotes prefrontal population activity via the PVN-PFC pathway to regulate pain. Neuron 2023; 111:1795-1811.e7. [PMID: 37023755 PMCID: PMC10272109 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can provide top-down regulation of sensory-affective experiences such as pain. Bottom-up modulation of sensory coding in the PFC, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we examined how oxytocin (OT) signaling from the hypothalamus regulates nociceptive coding in the PFC. In vivo time-lapse endoscopic calcium imaging in freely behaving rats showed that OT selectively enhanced population activity in the prelimbic PFC in response to nociceptive inputs. This population response resulted from the reduction of evoked GABAergic inhibition and manifested as elevated functional connectivity involving pain-responsive neurons. Direct inputs from OT-releasing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus are crucial to maintaining this prefrontal nociceptive response. Activation of the prelimbic PFC by OT or direct optogenetic stimulation of oxytocinergic PVN projections reduced acute and chronic pain. These results suggest that oxytocinergic signaling in the PVN-PFC circuit constitutes a key mechanism to regulate cortical sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chloe Bair-Marshall
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helen Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyun Jung Jee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elaine Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mengqi Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qiaosheng Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Lefevre
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Zhe Sage Chen
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Robert C Froemke
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Oxytocin Disturbs Vestibular Compensation and Modifies Behavioral Strategies in a Rodent Model of Acute Vestibulopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315262. [PMID: 36499588 PMCID: PMC9738578 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315262] [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: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Unilateral inner ear injury is followed by behavioral recovery due to central vestibular compensation. The therapeutic effect of oxytocin (OT) on vestibular compensation was investigated by behavioral testing in a rat model of unilateral vestibular neurectomy (UVN). Animals in the oxytocin group (UVN-OT) exhibited delayed vestibular compensation on the qualitative scale of vestibular deficits and aggravated static postural deficits (bearing surface) compared to animals in the NaCl group (UVN-NaCl). Surprisingly, oxytocin-treated animals adopt a different postural strategy than untreated animals. Instead of shifting their weight to the ipsilesional paws (left front and hind paws), they shift their weight to the front paws (right and left) without modification along the lateral axis. Furthermore, some locomotor strategies of the animals to compensate for the vestibular loss are also altered by oxytocin treatment. UVN-OT animals do not induce an increase in the distance traveled, their mean velocity is lower than that in the control group, and the ipsilesional body rotations do not increase from 7 to 30 days after UVN. This study reveals that oxytocin treatment hinders the restoration of some postural and locomotor deficits while improving others following vestibular lesions. The mechanisms of the action of oxytocin that support these behavioral changes remain to be elucidated.
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Maddahi A, Edvinsson L, Warfvinge K. Expression of vasopressin and its receptors in migraine-related regions in CNS and the trigeminal system: influence of sex. J Headache Pain 2022; 23:152. [PMID: 36456902 PMCID: PMC9713967 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-022-01524-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypothalamus is a key region in migraine attacks. In addition, women are disproportionately affected by migraine. The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system is an important key player in migraine pathophysiology. CGRP signaling could be a target of hormones that influence migraine. Our aim is to identify the expression of vasopressin and its receptors in the brain and in the trigeminovascular system with focus on the migraine-related regions and, furthermore, to examine the role of sex on the expression of neurohormones in the trigeminal ganglion. METHODS Rat brain and trigeminal ganglia were carefully harvested, and protein and mRNA levels were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS Vasopressin and its receptors immunoreactivity were found in migraine-related areas within the brain and, in the trigeminal ganglion, predominantly in neuronal cytoplasm. There were no differences in the number of positive immunoreactivity cells expression of CGRP and vasopressin in the trigeminal ganglion between male and female rats. In contrast, the number of RAMP1 (CGRP receptor), oxytocin (molecular relative to vasopressin), oxytocin receptor and vasopressin receptors (V1aR and V1bR) immunoreactive cells were higher in female compared to male rats. Vasopressin and its receptors mRNA were expressed in both hypothalamus and trigeminal ganglion; however, the vasopressin mRNA level was significantly higher in the hypothalamus. CONCLUSIONS A better understanding of potential hormonal influences on migraine mechanisms is needed to improve treatment of female migraineurs. It is intriguing that vasopressin is an output of hypothalamic neurons that influences areas associated with migraine. Therefore, vasopressin and the closely related oxytocin might be important hypothalamic components that contribute to migraine pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Maddahi
- grid.411843.b0000 0004 0623 9987Division of Experimental Vascular Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Edvinsson
- grid.411843.b0000 0004 0623 9987Division of Experimental Vascular Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden ,grid.475435.4Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Glostrup Research Institute, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Karin Warfvinge
- grid.411843.b0000 0004 0623 9987Division of Experimental Vascular Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden ,grid.475435.4Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Glostrup Research Institute, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
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Okuda T, Osako Y, Hidaka C, Nishihara M, Young LJ, Mitsui S, Yuri K. Separation from a bonded partner alters neural response to inflammatory pain in monogamous rodents. Behav Brain Res 2021; 418:113650. [PMID: 34748865 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113650] [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: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Pain experience is known to be modified by social factors, but the brain mechanisms remain unspecified. We recently established an animal model of social stress-induced hyperalgesia (SSIH) using a socially monogamous rodent, the prairie vole, in which males separated from their female partners (loss males) became anxious and displayed exacerbated inflammatory pain behaviors compared to males with partners (paired males). In the present study, to explore the neural pathways involved in SSIH, a difference in neuronal activation in pain-related brain regions, or "pain matrix", during inflammatory pain between paired and loss males was detected using Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir). Males were paired with a female and pair bonding was confirmed in all subjects using a partner preference test. During formalin-induced inflammatory pain, both paired and loss males showed a significant induction of Fos-ir throughout the analyzed pain matrix components compared to basal condition (without injection), and no group differences in immunoreactivity were found among the injected males in many brain regions. However, the loss males had significantly lower Fos-ir following inflammatory pain in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens shell than the paired males, even though base Fos-ir levels were comparable between groups. Notably, both regions with different Fos-ir are major components of the dopamine and oxytocin systems, which play critical roles in both pair bonding and pain regulation. The present results suggest the possibility that pain exacerbation by social stress emerges through alteration of signaling in social brain circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Okuda
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan; Department of Physical Therapy, Tosa Rehabilitation College, Otsu, Ohtsu, Kochi 781-5103, Japan.
| | - Yoji Osako
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Chiharu Hidaka
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Makoto Nishihara
- Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine, 21 Karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Center for Social Neural Networks, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Shinichi Mitsui
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8514, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yuri
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
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Effects of oxytocin on responses to nociceptive and non-nociceptive stimulation in the upper central nervous system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 574:8-13. [PMID: 34419875 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin is known as a social bonding hormone, but it also functions as an anxiolytic or analgesic neurotransmitter. When oxytocin regulates pain or anxiousness centrally as a neurotransmitter, it is secreted by neurons and directly projected to targeted regions. Although the function of oxytocin at the spinal level is well studied, its effects at the supraspinal level are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the effect of oxytocin at the supraspinal level in vivo using C57BL/6J (wild-type [WT]), oxytocin-deficient (Oxt-/-), oxytocin receptor-deficient (Oxtr-/-), and oxytocin receptor-Venus (OxtrVenus/+) mice lines. Response thresholds in Oxtr-/- mice in Hargreaves and von-Frey tests were significantly lower than those in WT mice, whereas open field and light/dark tests showed no significant differences. Moreover, response thresholds in Oxt-/- mice were raised to those in WT mice after oxytocin administration. Following the Hargreaves test, we observed the co-localisation of c-fos with Venus or the oxytocin receptor in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), medial amygdala (MeA), and nucleus accumbens (NAc) regions in OxtrVenus/+ mice. Furthermore, in the PAG, MeA, and NAc regions, the co-localisation of oxytocin with c-fos and gamma-aminobutyric acid was much stronger in Oxtr-/- mice than in WT mice. However, following von-Frey test, the same findings were observed only in the MeA and NAc regions. Our results suggest that oxytocin exerts its analgesic effect on painful stimulation via the PAG region and a self-protective effect on unpleasant stimulation via the MeA and NAc regions.
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Zheng H, Lim JY, Kim Y, Jung ST, Hwang SW. The role of oxytocin, vasopressin, and their receptors at nociceptors in peripheral pain modulation. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 63:100942. [PMID: 34437871 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2021.100942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin and vasopressin are neurohypophyseal hormones with sequence similarity and play a central role in bodily homeostatic regulation. Pain is currently understood to be an important phenotype that those two neurohormones strongly downregulate. Nociceptors, the first component of the ascending neural circuit for pain signals, have constantly been shown to be modulated by those peptides. The nociceptor modulation appears to be critical in pain attenuation, which has led to a gradual increase in scientific interest about their physiological processes and also drawn attention to their translational potentials. This review focused on what are recently understood and stay under investigation in the functional modulation of nociceptors by oxytocin and vasopressin. Effort to produce a nociceptor-specific view could help to construct a more systematic picture of the peripheral pain modulation by oxytocin and vasopressin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Lim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Yerin Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Sang Taek Jung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Sun Wook Hwang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
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Friuli M, Eramo B, Valenza M, Scuderi C, Provensi G, Romano A. Targeting the Oxytocinergic System: A Possible Pharmacological Strategy for the Treatment of Inflammation Occurring in Different Chronic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10250. [PMID: 34638587 PMCID: PMC8508899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Unresolved inflammation represents a central feature of different human pathologies including neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. The epidemiologic relevance of such disorders justifies the increasing interest in further understanding the mechanisms underpinning the inflammatory process occurring in such chronic diseases to provide potential novel pharmacological approaches. The most common and effective therapies for controlling inflammation are glucocorticoids; however, a variety of other molecules have been demonstrated to have an anti-inflammatory potential, including neuropeptides. In recent years, the oxytocinergic system has seen an explosion of scientific studies, demonstrating its potential to contribute to a variety of physiological processes including inflammation. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to understand the role of oxytocin in the modulation of inflammation occurring in different chronic diseases. The criterion we used to select the diseases was based on the emerging literature showing a putative involvement of the oxytocinergic system in inflammatory processes in a variety of pathologies including neurological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and obesity. The evidence reviewed here supports a beneficial role of oxytocin in the control of both peripheral and central inflammatory response happening in the aforementioned pathologies. Although future studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanistic details underlying such regulation, this review supports the idea that the modulation of the endogenous oxytocinergic system might represent a new potential pharmacological approach for the treatment of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Friuli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Barbara Eramo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Marta Valenza
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Caterina Scuderi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Gustavo Provensi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Adele Romano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
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11
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Yang LN, Chen K, Yin XP, Liu D, Zhu LQ. The Comprehensive Neural Mechanism of Oxytocin in Analgesia. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 20:147-157. [PMID: 34525934 PMCID: PMC9199553 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210826142107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is a nine amino acid neuropeptide hormone that has become one of the most intensively studied molecules in the past few decades. The vast majority of OXT is synthesized in the periventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, and a few are synthesized in some peripheral organs (such as the uterus, ovaries, adrenal glands, thymus, pancreas, etc.) OXT modulates a series of physiological processes, including lactation, parturition, as well as some social behaviors. In addition, more and more attention has recently been focused on the analgesic effects of oxytocin. It has been reported that OXT can relieve tension and pain without other adverse effects. However, the critical role and detailed mechanism of OXT in analgesia remain unclear. This review aims to summarize the mechanism of OXT in analgesia and some ideas about the mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu-Nan Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab of Neurological Disorder of Education Ministry, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030. China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab of Neurological Disorder of Education Ministry, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030. China
| | - Xiao-Ping Yin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang. China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030. China
| | - Ling-Qiang Zhu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab of Neurological Disorder of Education Ministry, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030. China
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12
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Espinosa de los Monteros-Zúñiga A, Martínez-Lorenzana G, Condés-Lara M, González-Hernández A. In Vivo Dissection of Two Intracellular Pathways Involved in the Spinal Oxytocin-Induced Antinociception in the Rat. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:3140-3147. [PMID: 34342984 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioral and electrophysiological data show that at the spinal level, oxytocin inhibits pain transmission by activation of oxytocin receptors (OTRs). Canonically, OTRs are coupled to Gq proteins, which induce a rise of intracellular Ca2+ by activating the phospholipase C (PLC). However, in vitro data showed that OTRs cause a plethora of intracellular events, some related to the activation of Gi proteins. Using a behavioral approach, we analyzed the main in vivo intracellular pathway elicited by spinal oxytocin during a peripheral inflammatory/persistent nociceptive stimulus. Intrathecal oxytocin reduces early (number of flinches) and late (mechanical allodynia) formalin-induced nociception, an effect abolished by the OTR antagonist (L-368,899). Furthermore, the antinociception observed during the early phase (acute inflammatory) was also reverted by U-73122 (PLC inhibitor) but not by pertussis toxin (Gαi/o protein inhibitor) or gallein (Gβγ subunit inhibitor). In contrast, the late oxytocin-induced behavioral analgesia was blocked by pertussis and gallein but not by U-73122. Since oxytocin's effects during the early phase were also antagonized by Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, ODQ, or glibenclamide (inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase [NOS], soluble guanylyl cyclase [GC], and K+ATP channels, respectively), the role of two differential pathways elicited by oxytocin is supported. Hence, we showed in in vivo experiments that oxytocin recruits two differential spinal intracellular pathways mediated by Gq (PLC/NOS/GC/K+ATP) or Gi proteins during a peripheral nociceptive stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros-Zúñiga
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, QRO 76230, México
| | - Guadalupe Martínez-Lorenzana
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, QRO 76230, México
| | - Miguel Condés-Lara
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, QRO 76230, México
| | - Abimael González-Hernández
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, QRO 76230, México
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13
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Biurrun Manresa JA, Schliessbach J, Vuilleumier PH, Müller M, Musshoff F, Stamer U, Stüber F, Arendt-Nielsen L, Curatolo M. Anti-nociceptive effects of oxytocin receptor modulation in healthy volunteers-A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Pain 2021; 25:1723-1738. [PMID: 33884702 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence for oxytocin as a neurotransmitter in spinal nociceptive processes. Hypothalamic oxytocinergic neurons project to the spinal dorsal horn, where they activate GABA-ergic inhibitory interneurons. The present study tested whether the long-acting oxytocin-analogue carbetocin has anti-nociceptive effects in multi-modal experimental pain in humans. METHODS Twenty-five male volunteers received carbetocin 100 mcg and placebo (0.9% NaCl) on two different sessions in a randomized, double-blinded, cross-over design. Multi-modal quantitative sensory testing (QST) including a model of capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia and allodynia were performed at baseline and at 10, 60 and 120 min after drug administration. QST data were analysed using mixed linear and logistic regression models. Carbetocin plasma concentrations and oxytocin receptor genotypes were quantified and assessed in an exploratory fashion. RESULTS An anti-nociceptive effect of carbetocin was observed on intramuscular electrical temporal summation (estimated difference: 1.26 mA, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.56 mA, p = .04) and single-stimulus electrical pain thresholds (estimated difference: 1.21 mA, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.47 mA, p = .05). Furthermore, the area of capsaicin-induced allodynia was reduced after carbetocin compared to placebo (estimated difference: -6.5 cm2 , 95% CI -9.8 to -3.2 cm2 , p < .001). CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence of an anti-nociceptive effect of carbetocin on experimental pain in humans. SIGNIFICANCE This study provides evidence of the anti-nociceptive effect of intravenous administration of the oxytocin agonist carbetocin in healthy male volunteers.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Biurrun Manresa
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Bioingeniería y Bioinformática (IBB), CONICET-UNER, Oro Verde, Argentina
| | - Jürg Schliessbach
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Anesthesiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal H Vuilleumier
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Clinic of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Hirslandenklinik St. Anna, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Monika Müller
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Ulrike Stamer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Frank Stüber
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lars Arendt-Nielsen
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Michele Curatolo
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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14
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Iovino M, Messana T, Tortora A, Giusti C, Lisco G, Giagulli VA, Guastamacchia E, De Pergola G, Triggiani V. Oxytocin Signaling Pathway: From Cell Biology to Clinical Implications. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2021; 21:91-110. [PMID: 32433011 DOI: 10.2174/1871530320666200520093730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to the well-known role played in lactation and parturition, Oxytocin (OT) and OT receptor (OTR) are involved in many other aspects such as the control of maternal and social behavior, the regulation of the growth of the neocortex, the maintenance of blood supply to the cortex, the stimulation of limbic olfactory area to mother-infant recognition bond, and the modulation of the autonomic nervous system via the vagal pathway. Moreover, OT and OTR show antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-pain, anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemic and anti-atherogenic effects. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the main data coming from the literature dealing with the role of OT and OTR in physiology and pathologic conditions focusing on the most relevant aspects. METHODS Appropriate keywords and MeSH terms were identified and searched in Pubmed. Finally, references of original articles and reviews were examined. RESULTS We report the most significant and updated data on the role played by OT and OTR in physiology and different clinical contexts. CONCLUSION Emerging evidence indicates the involvement of OT system in several pathophysiological mechanisms influencing brain anatomy, cognition, language, sense of safety and trust and maternal behavior, with the possible use of exogenous administered OT in the treatment of specific neuropsychiatric conditions. Furthermore, it modulates pancreatic β-cell responsiveness and lipid metabolism leading to possible therapeutic use in diabetic and dyslipidemic patients and for limiting and even reversing atherosclerotic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iovino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Tullio Messana
- Infantile Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS - Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Tortora
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Consuelo Giusti
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lisco
- Hospital Unit of Endocrinology, Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Vito Angelo Giagulli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Edoardo Guastamacchia
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Pergola
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
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15
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Althammer F, Eliava M, Grinevich V. Central and peripheral release of oxytocin: Relevance of neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter actions for physiology and behavior. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 180:25-44. [PMID: 34225933 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820107-7.00003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is critically involved in the modulation of socio-emotional behavior, sexual competence, and pain perception and anticipation. While intracellular signaling of OT and its receptor (OTR), as well as the functional connectivity of hypothalamic and extra-hypothalamic OT projections, have been recently explored, it remains elusive how one single molecule has pleotropic effects from cell proliferation all the way to modulation of complex cognitive processes. Moreover, there are astonishing species-dependent differences in the way OT regulates various sensory modalities such as touch, olfaction, and vision, which can be explained by differences in OTR expression in brain regions processing sensory information. Recent research highlights a small subpopulation of OT-synthesizing cells, namely, parvocellular cells, which merely constitute 1% of the total number of OT cells but act as "master cells' that regulate the activity of the entire OT system. In this chapter, we summarize the latest advances in the field of OT research with a particular focus on differences between rodents, monkeys and humans and highlight the main differences between OT and its "sister" peptide arginine-vasopressin, which often exerts opposite effects on physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Althammer
- Neuroscience Department, Center for Neuroinflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Marina Eliava
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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16
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Li C, Wang X, Zhang G, Zhang Y, Xia F, Xu S, Shen X. Downregulation of microRNA‑29c reduces pain after child delivery by activating the oxytocin‑GABA pathway. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:1921-1931. [PMID: 32705167 PMCID: PMC7411447 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant decrease in the expression of spinal microRNA-29c (miR-29c), which is responsible for the regulation of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression, was observed in nerve injury pain during childbirth. The present study investigates whether spinal miR-29c could be a potential target for the treatment of pain, via the oxytocin (OT)-γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway. A spared nerve injury (SNI) rat model was established to induce neuropathic pain, simulating hyperalgesia. Spinal neurons were treated with OT to mimic the hormonal changes in the central nervous system after delivery. A change in the neuronal miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) was observed in neurons, following the silencing of miR-29c or OT treatment with or without OXTR antagonist. The Von-Frey apparatus was used to measure the animal behaviors. Molecular biological experiments and electrophysical recordings in vivo and in vitro were performed to reveal the potential analgesic mechanisms. miR-29c was significantly downregulated (more than 8-fold) in the spinal dorsal horn of delivery+SNI rats compared with the SNI rats. The silencing of miR-29c resulted in increased pain threshold in SNI rats. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that OXTR was a potential target gene of miR-29c. The delivery+SNI rats presented with higher levels of OT in the cerebrospinal fluid compared with SNI rats, which indicated that the OT signaling pathway may participate in pain relief response. The increased expression of OXTR and GABA in delivery+SNI rats were observed in the miR-29c-silenced SNI rat model, suggesting that the silencing of miR-29c can mediate pain relief by enhancing the OT-GABA pathway. In addition, an electrophysiology assay was performed to assess the mIPSCs in neurons. The silencing of miR-29c in neurons increased the frequency and amplitude of mIPSCs but there was no influence on the decay time, which suggested that the spinal inhibitory neurons became more active, subsequently reducing the feeling of pain. The inhibition of OXTR reversed the enhanced inhibitory postsynaptic currents, indicating a crucial role for OXTR in the miR-29c-associated pain regulation. Taken together, the results of the present study suggested that spinal oxytocinergic inhibitory control plays an important role in pain relief in the neuropathic pain rat model undergoing vaginal delivery. Silencing spinal miR-29c may be a potential target for pain relief through the OT-GABA pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caijuan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004, P.R. China
| | - Xian Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004, P.R. China
| | - Guangfen Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004, P.R. China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004, P.R. China
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004, P.R. China
| | - Shiqin Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Shen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210004, P.R. China
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17
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Hilfiger L, Zhao Q, Kerspern D, Inquimbert P, Andry V, Goumon Y, Darbon P, Hibert M, Charlet A. A Nonpeptide Oxytocin Receptor Agonist for a Durable Relief of Inflammatory Pain. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3017. [PMID: 32080303 PMCID: PMC7033278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59929-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin possesses several physiological and social functions, among which an important analgesic effect. For this purpose, oxytocin binds mainly to its unique receptor, both in the central nervous system and in the peripheral nociceptive terminal axon in the skin. However, despite its interesting analgesic properties and its current use in clinics to facilitate labor, oxytocin is not used in pain treatment. Indeed, it is rapidly metabolized, with a half-life in the blood circulation estimated at five minutes and in cerebrospinal fluid around twenty minutes in humans and rats. Moreover, oxytocin itself suffers from several additional drawbacks: a lack of specificity, an extremely poor oral absorption and distribution, and finally, a lack of patentability. Recently, a first non-peptide full agonist of oxytocin receptor (LIT-001) of low molecular weight has been synthesized with reported beneficial effect for social interactions after peripheral administration. In the present study, we report that a single intraperitoneal administration of LIT-001 in a rat model induces a long-lasting reduction in inflammatory pain-induced hyperalgesia symptoms, paving the way to an original drug development strategy for pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Hilfiger
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, UPR3212 Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Qian Zhao
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR7200 CNRS/Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Damien Kerspern
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, UPR3212 Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Perrine Inquimbert
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, UPR3212 Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Virginie Andry
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, UPR3212 Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yannick Goumon
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, UPR3212 Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Darbon
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, UPR3212 Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marcel Hibert
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR7200 CNRS/Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, UPR3212 Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France.
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18
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Li YX, An H, Wen Z, Tao ZY, Cao DY. Can oxytocin inhibit stress-induced hyperalgesia? Neuropeptides 2020; 79:101996. [PMID: 31776011 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.101996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Stress-induced hyperalgesia is a problematic condition that lacks an effective therapeutic measure, and hence impairs health-related quality of life. The regulation of stress by oxytocin (OT) has overlapping effects on pain. OT can alleviate pain directly mainly at the spinal level and the peripheral tissues. Additionally, OT plays an analgesic role by dealing with stress and fear learning. When OT relieves stress by targeting the prefrontal brain regions and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the body's sensitivity to pain is attenuated. Meanwhile, OT facilitates fear learning and may, in turn, enhance the anticipatory actions to painful stimulation. The unique therapeutic value of OT in patients suffering from stress and stress-related hyperalgesia conditions is worth considering. We reviewed recent advances in animal and human studies involving the effects of OT on stress and pain, and discussed the possible targets of OT within the descending and ascending pathways in the central nervous system. This review provides an overview of the evidence on the role of OT in alleviating stress-induced hyperalgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Xin Li
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, Research Center of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Stomatology, 98 West 5th Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China; Department of Special Dental Care, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Stomatology, 98 West 5th Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China
| | - Hong An
- Department of Special Dental Care, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Stomatology, 98 West 5th Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China.
| | - Zhuo Wen
- Department of Special Dental Care, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Stomatology, 98 West 5th Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China
| | - Zhuo-Ying Tao
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, Research Center of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Stomatology, 98 West 5th Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China
| | - Dong-Yuan Cao
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, Research Center of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Stomatology, 98 West 5th Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China.
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19
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Recurrent antinociception induced by intrathecal or peripheral oxytocin in a neuropathic pain rat model. Exp Brain Res 2019; 237:2995-3010. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05651-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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20
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Leng G, Russell JA. The osmoresponsiveness of oxytocin and vasopressin neurones: Mechanisms, allostasis and evolution. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12662. [PMID: 30451331 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the rat supraoptic nucleus, every oxytocin cell projects to the posterior pituitary, and is involved both in reflex milk ejection during lactation and in regulating uterine contractions during parturition. All are also osmosensitive, regulating natriuresis. All are also regulated by signals that control appetite, including the neural and hormonal signals that arise from the gut after food intake and from the sites of energy storage. All are also involved in sexual behaviour, anxiety-related behaviours and social behaviours. The challenge is to understand how a single population of neurones can coherently regulate such a diverse set of functions and adapt to changing physiological states. Their multiple functions arise from complex intrinsic properties that confer sensitivity to a wide range of internal and environmental signals. Many of these properties have a distant evolutionary origin in multifunctional, multisensory neurones of Urbilateria, the hypothesised common ancestor of vertebrates, insects and worms. Their properties allow different patterns of oxytocin release into the circulation from their axon terminals in the posterior pituitary into other brain areas from axonal projections, as well as independent release from their dendrites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Leng
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - John A Russell
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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21
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Pharmacological rescue of nociceptive hypersensitivity and oxytocin analgesia impairment in a rat model of neonatal maternal separation. Pain 2019; 159:2630-2640. [PMID: 30169420 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT), known for its neurohormonal effects around birth, has recently been suggested for being a critical determinant in neurodevelopmental disorders. This hypothalamic neuropeptide exerts a potent analgesic effect through an action on the nociceptive system. This endogenous control of pain has an important adaptive value but might be altered by early life stress, possibly contributing to its long-term consequences on pain responses and associated comorbidities. We tested this hypothesis using a rat model of neonatal maternal separation (NMS) known to induce long-term consequences on several brain functions including chronic stress, anxiety, altered social behavior, and visceral hypersensitivity. We found that adult rats with a history of NMS were hypersensitive to noxious mechanical/thermal hot stimuli and to inflammatory pain. We failed to observe OT receptor-mediated stress-induced analgesia and OT antihyperalgesia after carrageenan inflammation. These alterations were partially rescued if NMS pups were treated by intraperitoneal daily injection during NMS with OT or its downstream second messenger allopregnanolone. The involvement of epigenetic changes in these alterations was confirmed since neonatal treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA, not only normalized nociceptive sensitivities but also restored OT receptor-mediated stress-induced analgesia and the endogenous antihyperalgesia in inflamed NMS rats. There is growing evidence in the literature that early life stress might impair the nociceptive system ontogeny and function. This study suggests that these alterations might be restored while stimulating OT receptor signaling or histone deacetylase inhibitors, using molecules that are currently available or part of clinical trials for other pathologies.
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Gonzalez-Hernandez A, Charlet A. Oxytocin, GABA, and TRPV1, the Analgesic Triad? Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:398. [PMID: 30555298 PMCID: PMC6282058 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abimael Gonzalez-Hernandez
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
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23
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Dussor G, Boyd JT, Akopian AN. Pituitary Hormones and Orofacial Pain. Front Integr Neurosci 2018; 12:42. [PMID: 30356882 PMCID: PMC6190856 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2018.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and basic research on regulation of pituitary hormones, extra-pituitary release of these hormones, distribution of their receptors and cell signaling pathways recruited upon receptor binding suggests that pituitary hormones can regulate mechanisms of nociceptive transmission in multiple orofacial pain conditions. Moreover, many pituitary hormones either regulate glands that produce gonadal hormones (GnH) or are regulated by GnH. This implies that pituitary hormones may be involved in sex-dependent mechanisms of orofacial pain and could help explain why certain orofacial pain conditions are more prevalent in women than men. Overall, regulation of nociception by pituitary hormones is a relatively new and emerging area of pain research. The aims of this review article are to: (1) present an overview of clinical conditions leading to orofacial pain that are associated with alterations of serum pituitary hormone levels; (2) discuss proposed mechanisms of how pituitary hormones could regulate nociceptive transmission; and (3) outline how pituitary hormones could regulate nociception in a sex-specific fashion. Pituitary hormones are routinely used for hormonal replacement therapy, while both receptor antagonists and agonists are used to manage certain pathological conditions related to hormonal imbalance. Administration of these hormones may also have a place in the treatment of pain, including orofacial pain. Hence, understanding the involvement of pituitary hormones in orofacial pain, especially sex-dependent aspects of such pain, is essential to both optimize current therapies as well as provide novel and sex-specific pharmacology for a diversity of associated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Dussor
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Jacob T Boyd
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Armen N Akopian
- Department of Endodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,Department of Pharmcology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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24
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Boll S, Almeida de Minas A, Raftogianni A, Herpertz S, Grinevich V. Oxytocin and Pain Perception: From Animal Models to Human Research. Neuroscience 2018; 387:149-161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.09.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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25
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Dayanithi G, Forostyak O, Forostyak S, Kayano T, Ueta Y, Verkhratsky A. Vasopressin and oxytocin in sensory neurones: expression, exocytotic release and regulation by lactation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13084. [PMID: 30166555 PMCID: PMC6117293 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurohormones arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) synthesised in supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of neurohypophysis regulate lactation, systemic water homeostasis and nociception. Using transgenic rats expressing AVP and OT tagged with fluorescent proteins we demonstrate that both neurohormones are expressed in sensory neurones both in vitro, in primary cultures, and in situ, in the intact ganglia; this expression was further confirmed with immunocytochemistry. Both neurohormones were expressed in nociceptive neurones immunopositive to transient receptor potential vannilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel antibodies. The AVP and OT-expressing DRG neurones responded to AVP, OT, 50 mM K+ and capsaicin with [Ca2+]i transients; responses to AVP and OT were specifically blocked by the antagonists of V1 AVP and OT receptors. Probing the extracellular incubation saline with ELISA revealed AVP and OT secretion from isolated DRGs; this secretion was inhibited by tetanus toxin (TeNT) indicating the role for vesicular release. Expression of OT, but not AVP in DRG neurones significantly increased during lactation. Together, the results indicate novel physiological roles (possibly related to nociception and mood regulation) of AVP and OT in the sensory neurones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Govindan Dayanithi
- Institut des Sciences Biologiques-Neurosciences, cognition, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75794, Paris cedex 16, France. .,MMDN-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-U1198, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France. .,Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Sorbonne, Les Patios Saint-Jaques, 75014, Paris, France. .,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University at Plzen, CZ-32300, Plzen, Czech Republic.
| | - Oksana Forostyak
- Department of Molecular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Serhiy Forostyak
- Department of Neuroscience, 2nd faculty of Medicine, Charles University, V Uvalu 84, 15006, Prague, Czech Republic.,PrimeCell Therapeutics a.s. Palachovo Náměstí 2, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomohiko Kayano
- MMDN-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-U1198, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.,Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Sorbonne, Les Patios Saint-Jaques, 75014, Paris, France.,Department of Molecular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yoichi Ueta
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PT, Manchester, UK. .,Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011, Bilbao, Spain.
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26
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Sun W, Zhou Q, Ba X, Feng X, Hu X, Cheng X, Liu T, Guo J, Xiao L, Jiang J, Xiong D, Hao Y, Chen Z, Jiang C. Oxytocin Relieves Neuropathic Pain Through GABA Release and Presynaptic TRPV1 Inhibition in Spinal Cord. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:248. [PMID: 30065629 PMCID: PMC6056657 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Oxytocin (OT) is synthesized within the paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. In addition to its role in uterine contraction, OT plays an important antinociceptive role; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms of antinociceptive role of OT remain elusive. We hypothesized that the antinociceptive effect of OT on neuropathic pain may occur via inhibition of TRPV1 activation in the spinal cord. The present study explores the antinociceptive role of OT and its mechanisms in neuropathic pain. Methods: Partial sciatic nerve ligation (pSNL) was performed to induce neuropathic pain. Animal behaviors were measured using a set of electronic von Frey apparatus and hot plate. Electrophysiological recordings and molecular biological experiments were performed. Results: Intrathecal administration of OT alleviated both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in pSNL rats (n = 6, per group, P < 0.0001, saline vs. OT group). Electrophysiological data revealed that OT significantly inhibited the enhancement of frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents induced presynaptically by TRPV1 activation in the spinal cord. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of OT on capsaicin-induced facilitation of excitatory transmission was blocked by co-treatment with saclofen, while intrathecal administration of OT dramatically inhibited capsaicin-induced ongoing pain in rats, (n = 6, per group, P < 0.0001, saline vs. OT group). The paw withdrawal latency in response to heat stimulation was significantly impaired in TRPV1KO mice 3 days after pSNL upon OT (i.t.) treatment, compared with wild type mice (n = 6, P < 0.05). Finally, OT prevented TRPV1 up-regulation in spinal cords of pSNL model rats. Conclusion: OT relieves neuropathic pain through GABA release and presynaptic TRPV1 inhibition in the spinal cord. OT and its receptor system might be an intriguing target for the treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuping Sun
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Pain Medicine, The Third People's Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiyuan Ba
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaojin Feng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xuexue Hu
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaoe Cheng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lizu Xiao
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jin Jiang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Donglin Xiong
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yue Hao
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zixian Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changyu Jiang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital and the 6th Affiliated Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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27
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Oxytocin Modulates Nociception as an Agonist of Pain-Sensing TRPV1. Cell Rep 2018; 21:1681-1691. [PMID: 29117570 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.10.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a hormone with various actions. Oxytocin-containing parvocellular neurons project to the brainstem and spinal cord. Oxytocin release from these neurons suppresses nociception of inflammatory pain, the molecular mechanism of which remains unclear. Here, we report that the noxious stimulus receptor TRPV1 is an ionotropic oxytocin receptor. Oxytocin elicits TRPV1 activity in native and heterologous expression systems, regardless of the presence of the classical oxytocin receptor. In TRPV1 knockout mice, DRG neurons exhibit reduced oxytocin sensitivity relative to controls, and oxytocin injections significantly attenuate capsaicin-induced nociception in in vivo experiments. Furthermore, oxytocin potentiates TRPV1 in planar lipid bilayers, supporting a direct agonistic action. Molecular modeling and simulation experiments provide insight into oxytocin-TRPV1 interactions, which resemble DkTx. Together, our findings suggest the existence of endogenous regulatory pathways that modulate nociception via direct action of oxytocin on TRPV1, implying its analgesic effect via channel desensitization.
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28
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Althammer F, Grinevich V. Diversity of oxytocin neurons: beyond magno- and parvocellular cell types? J Neuroendocrinol 2017; 30. [PMID: 29024187 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), which is evolutionarily conserved among different species throughout the animal kingdom, is a key modulator of a variety of socio-emotional behaviors such as fear, trust and empathy. OT cells in the mammalian hypothalamus have been traditionally divided into two distinct types - magnocellular (magnOT) and parvocellular (parvOT) or preautonomic neurons. This distinction is based on OT cell sizes and shapes, projections, electrophysiological activity and functions. Indeed, while neuroendocrine magnOT neurons are known to primarily project their axons to the posterior pituitary and to a number of forebrain regions, non-neuroendocrine parvOT neurons have been seen as the main source of OT innervation of the brainstem and spinal cord to control autonomic functions and pain perception. However, very recent findings demonstrated distinct genetic profiles in OT neurons, allowing discrimination of at least four types of cells expressing OT. Furthermore, unexpected axonal projections of parvOT neurons to the forebrain and magnOT neurons to the midbrain have been newly reported. In this review, we focus on the detailed analysis of methods of distinction between OT cell types, in- and output sites, morphology as well as on the direct connectivity between OT neurons and its physiological significance. At the end, we propose a hypothesis that the central OT system is composed of more than just two OT cell types, which should be further verified by the application of available genetic and anatomical techniques. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Althammer
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence at the, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, 68159, Germany
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29
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30
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Boadas-Vaello P, Homs J, Reina F, Carrera A, Verdú E. Neuroplasticity of Supraspinal Structures Associated with Pathological Pain. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2017; 300:1481-1501. [PMID: 28263454 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve and spinal cord injuries, along with other painful syndromes such as fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapeutic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and/or irritable bowel syndrome, cause several neuroplasticity changes in the nervous system along its entire axis affecting the different neuronal nuclei. This paper reviews these changes, focusing on the supraspinal structures that are involved in the modulation and processing of pain, including the periaqueductal gray matter, red nucleus, locus coeruleus, rostral ventromedial medulla, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, habenula, primary, and secondary somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, mammillary bodies, hippocampus, septum, amygdala, cingulated, and prefrontal cortex. Hyperexcitability caused by the modification of postsynaptic receptor expression, central sensitization, and potentiation of presynaptic delivery of neurotransmitters, as well as the reduction of inhibitory inputs, changes in dendritic spine, neural circuit remodeling, alteration of gray matter, and upregulation of proinflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines) by reactivation of astrocytes and microglial cells are the main functional, structural, and molecular neuroplasticity changes observed in the above supraspinal structures, associated with pathological pain. Studying these changes in greater depth may lead to the implementation and improvement of new therapeutic strategies against pathological pain. Anat Rec, 300:1481-1501, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pere Boadas-Vaello
- Research Group of Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience (NEOMA), Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, 17003, Spain
| | - Judit Homs
- Research Group of Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience (NEOMA), Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, 17003, Spain.,Department of Physical Therapy EUSES-Universitat of Girona, Salt (Girona), Catalonia, 17190, Spain
| | - Francisco Reina
- Research Group of Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience (NEOMA), Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, 17003, Spain
| | - Ana Carrera
- Research Group of Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience (NEOMA), Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, 17003, Spain
| | - Enrique Verdú
- Research Group of Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience (NEOMA), Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, 17003, Spain
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31
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The analgesic effects of oxytocin in the peripheral and central nervous system. Neurochem Int 2017; 103:57-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2016.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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32
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Poisbeau P, Grinevich V, Charlet A. Oxytocin Signaling in Pain: Cellular, Circuit, System, and Behavioral Levels. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2017; 35:193-211. [PMID: 28942595 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2017_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Originally confined to the initiation of parturition and milk ejection after birth, the hypothalamic nonapeptide oxytocin (OT) is now recognized as a critical determinant of social behavior and emotional processing. It accounts for the modulation of sensory processing and pain perception as OT displays a potent analgesic effect mediated by OT receptors (OTRs) expressed in the peripheral and central nervous systems. In our chapter, we will first systemically analyze known efferent and afferent OT neuron projections, which form the anatomical basis for OT modulation of somatosensory and pain processing. Next, we will focus on the synergy of distinct types of OT neurons (e.g., magno- and parvocellular OT neurons) which efficiently control acute inflammatory pain perception. Finally, we will describe how OT signaling mechanisms in the spinal cord control nociception, as well as how OT is able to modulate emotional pain processing within the central amygdala. In the conclusions at the end of the chapter, we will formulate perspectives in the study of OT effects on pain anticipation and pain memory, as well as propose some reasons for the application of exogenous OT for the treatment of certain types of pain in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierrick Poisbeau
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides, German Cancer Research Center, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, BW, Germany.,Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, BW, Germany
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France. .,University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study, USIAS, Strasbourg, France.
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33
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Kimmel M, Clive M, Gispen F, Guintivano J, Brown T, Cox O, Beckmann MW, Kornhuber J, Fasching PA, Osborne LM, Binder E, Payne JL, Kaminsky Z. Oxytocin receptor DNA methylation in postpartum depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 69:150-60. [PMID: 27108164 PMCID: PMC7152506 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) is a key regulator of stress and anxiety and may be regulated by both psychosocial risk factors and gonadal hormones, making it an attractive candidate for study in postpartum depression (PPD). The objective of this study was to investigate both serum hormone and PPD specific DNA methylation variation in the OXTR. Illumina HM450 microarray data generated in a prospective PPD cohort identified significant associations (P=0.014) with PPD in an intronic region in the OXTR located 4bp proximal to an estrogen receptor (ER) binding region. Pyrosequencing confirmed moderate evidence for an interaction of CpGs in the region with childhood abuse status to mediate PPD. These CpGs located on chr3 at positions 8810078 and 8810069 exhibited significant associations with postpartum depression scores from an independent cohort of 240 women with no prior psychiatric history. Hormone analysis suggested a PPD specific negative correlation of DNA methylation in the region with serum estradiol levels. Estradiol levels and OXTR DNA methylation exhibited a significant interaction to associate with the ratio of allopregnanolone to progesterone. Cumulatively, the data corroborate our previous hypotheses of a PPD specific increased sensitivity of epigenetic reprogramming at estrogen target genes and suggests that OXTR epigenetic variation may be an important mediator of mood relevant neuroactive steroid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kimmel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Makena Clive
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Fiona Gispen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jerry Guintivano
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tori Brown
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Olivia Cox
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Matthias W. Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter A. Fasching
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lauren M. Osborne
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Elisabeth Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Jennifer L. Payne
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Zachary Kaminsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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34
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Eliava M, Melchior M, Knobloch-Bollmann HS, Wahis J, da Silva Gouveia M, Tang Y, Ciobanu AC, Triana Del Rio R, Roth LC, Althammer F, Chavant V, Goumon Y, Gruber T, Petit-Demoulière N, Busnelli M, Chini B, Tan LL, Mitre M, Froemke RC, Chao MV, Giese G, Sprengel R, Kuner R, Poisbeau P, Seeburg PH, Stoop R, Charlet A, Grinevich V. A New Population of Parvocellular Oxytocin Neurons Controlling Magnocellular Neuron Activity and Inflammatory Pain Processing. Neuron 2016; 89:1291-1304. [PMID: 26948889 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide elaborated by the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei. Magnocellular OT neurons of these nuclei innervate numerous forebrain regions and release OT into the blood from the posterior pituitary. The PVN also harbors parvocellular OT cells that project to the brainstem and spinal cord, but their function has not been directly assessed. Here, we identified a subset of approximately 30 parvocellular OT neurons, with collateral projections onto magnocellular OT neurons and neurons of deep layers of the spinal cord. Evoked OT release from these OT neurons suppresses nociception and promotes analgesia in an animal model of inflammatory pain. Our findings identify a new population of OT neurons that modulates nociception in a two tier process: (1) directly by release of OT from axons onto sensory spinal cord neurons and inhibiting their activity and (2) indirectly by stimulating OT release from SON neurons into the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Eliava
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Meggane Melchior
- Institut of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI) UPR3212, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - H Sophie Knobloch-Bollmann
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Jérôme Wahis
- Institut of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI) UPR3212, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Miriam da Silva Gouveia
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Yan Tang
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Alexandru Cristian Ciobanu
- Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Hôpital de Cery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne 1008, Switzerland
| | - Rodrigo Triana Del Rio
- Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Hôpital de Cery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne 1008, Switzerland
| | - Lena C Roth
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Ferdinand Althammer
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Virginie Chavant
- Institut of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI) UPR3212, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Yannick Goumon
- Institut of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI) UPR3212, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Tim Gruber
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Nathalie Petit-Demoulière
- Institut of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI) UPR3212, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Marta Busnelli
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Milan 20129, Italy
| | - Bice Chini
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Milan 20129, Italy; Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano 20089, Italy
| | - Linette L Tan
- Department for Molecular Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit with European Molecular Biology Laboratories, Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Mariela Mitre
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Robert C Froemke
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Moses V Chao
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Günter Giese
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Rolf Sprengel
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Department for Molecular Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit with European Molecular Biology Laboratories, Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Pierrick Poisbeau
- Institut of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI) UPR3212, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Peter H Seeburg
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Ron Stoop
- Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Hôpital de Cery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne 1008, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Charlet
- Institut of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI) UPR3212, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France; University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), Strasbourg 67000, France.
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Cell Network Cluster of Excellence at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Mannheim 68159, Germany.
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Zell V, Juif PÉ, Hanesch U, Poisbeau P, Anton F, Darbon P. Corticosterone analgesia is mediated by the spinal production of neuroactive metabolites that enhance GABAergic inhibitory transmission on dorsal horn rat neurons. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 41:390-7. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Zell
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg; Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives; 5 rue Blaise Pascal F-67084 Strasbourg France
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Psychobiology; University of Luxembourg; Luxembourg City Luxembourg
| | - Pierre-Éric Juif
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg; Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives; 5 rue Blaise Pascal F-67084 Strasbourg France
| | - Ulrike Hanesch
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Psychobiology; University of Luxembourg; Luxembourg City Luxembourg
| | - Pierrick Poisbeau
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg; Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives; 5 rue Blaise Pascal F-67084 Strasbourg France
| | - Fernand Anton
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Psychobiology; University of Luxembourg; Luxembourg City Luxembourg
| | - Pascal Darbon
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg; Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives; 5 rue Blaise Pascal F-67084 Strasbourg France
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Wang F, Stefano GB, Kream RM. Epigenetic modification of DRG neuronal gene expression subsequent to nerve injury: etiological contribution to complex regional pain syndromes (Part II). Med Sci Monit 2014; 20:1188-200. [PMID: 25027291 PMCID: PMC4106931 DOI: 10.12659/msm.890707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cumulating evidence indicated that nerve injury-associated cellular and molecular changes play an essential role in contributing to the development of pathological pain, and more recent findings implicated the critical role of epigenetic mechanisms in pain-related sensitization in the DRG subsequent to nerve injury. In this part of the dyad review (Part II), we reviewed and paid special attention on the etiological contribution of DGR gene expression modulated by epigenetic mechanisms of CRPS. As essential effectors to different molecular activation, we first discussed the activation of various signaling pathways that subsequently from nerve injury, and in further illustrated the fundamental and functional underpinnings of nerve injury-induced pain, in which we argued for the potential epigenetic mechanisms in response to sensitizing stimuli or injury. Therefore, understanding the specific mediating factors that influence individual epigenetic differences contributing to pain sensitivity and responsiveness to analgesics possesses crucial clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuzhou Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (mainland)
| | - George B Stefano
- Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, China (mainland)
| | - Richard M Kream
- Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, China (mainland)
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Poisbeau P, Keller AF, Aouad M, Kamoun N, Groyer G, Schumacher M. Analgesic strategies aimed at stimulating the endogenous production of allopregnanolone. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:174. [PMID: 24987335 PMCID: PMC4060572 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing number of studies indicate that 3-alpha reduced neurosteroids are remarkable analgesics in various pain states. This is the case for allopregnanolone (AP), one of the most potent endogenous positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptor function. From the pioneering work of Hans Selye, who described the sedative properties of steroids, synthetic compounds resembling the progesterone metabolite AP have been developed. If some of them have been used as anesthetics, it seems difficult to propose them as a therapeutic option for pain since they display several adverse side effects such as sedation, amnesia and functional tolerance. An alternative strategy, chosen by few laboratories around the world, is aimed at stimulating the local production of 3-alpha reduced neurosteroids in order to limit these well-known side effects. This pharmacological approach has the advantage of targeting specific structures, fully equipped with the necessary biosynthetic enzymatic machinery, where neurosteroids already act as endogenous pain modulators. The various pharmacological trials which attempted to treat pain symptoms by stimulating the production of 3-alpha reduced neurosteroids are reviewed here, as well as novel neurotransmitter systems possibly regulating their endogenous production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierrick Poisbeau
- Molecular Determinants of Pain, Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI), UPR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 3212 and University of Strasbourg Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Florence Keller
- Molecular Determinants of Pain, Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI), UPR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 3212 and University of Strasbourg Strasbourg, France ; Rhenovia Pharma Mulhouse, France
| | - Maya Aouad
- Molecular Determinants of Pain, Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI), UPR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 3212 and University of Strasbourg Strasbourg, France
| | - Nisrine Kamoun
- Molecular Determinants of Pain, Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (INCI), UPR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 3212 and University of Strasbourg Strasbourg, France
| | - Ghislaine Groyer
- UMR 788 Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration: Neuroactive Small Molecules, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and University Paris-Sud Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Michael Schumacher
- UMR 788 Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration: Neuroactive Small Molecules, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and University Paris-Sud Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
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Dose F, Zanon P, Coslovich T, Taccola G. Nanomolar oxytocin synergizes with weak electrical afferent stimulation to activate the locomotor CpG of the rat spinal cord in vitro. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92967. [PMID: 24658101 PMCID: PMC3962494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Synergizing the effect of afferent fibre stimulation with pharmacological interventions is a desirable goal to trigger spinal locomotor activity, especially after injury. Thus, to better understand the mechanisms to optimize this process, we studied the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin (previously shown to stimulate locomotor networks) on network and motoneuron properties using the isolated neonatal rat spinal cord. On motoneurons oxytocin (1 nM–1 μM) generated sporadic bursts with superimposed firing and dose-dependent depolarization. No desensitization was observed despite repeated applications. Tetrodotoxin completely blocked the effects of oxytocin, demonstrating the network origin of the responses. Recording motoneuron pool activity from lumbar ventral roots showed oxytocin mediated depolarization with synchronous bursts, and depression of reflex responses in a stimulus and peptide-concentration dependent fashion. Disinhibited bursting caused by strychnine and bicuculline was accelerated by oxytocin whose action was blocked by the oxytocin antagonist atosiban. Fictive locomotion appeared when subthreshold concentrations of NMDA plus 5HT were coapplied with oxytocin, an effect prevented after 24 h incubation with the inhibitor of 5HT synthesis, PCPA. When fictive locomotion was fully manifested, oxytocin did not change periodicity, although cycle amplitude became smaller. A novel protocol of electrical stimulation based on noisy waveforms and applied to one dorsal root evoked stereotypic fictive locomotion. Whenever the stimulus intensity was subthreshold, low doses of oxytocin triggered fictive locomotion although oxytocin per se did not affect primary afferent depolarization evoked by dorsal root pulses. Among the several functional targets for the action of oxytocin at lumbar spinal cord level, the present results highlight how small concentrations of this peptide could bring spinal networks to threshold for fictive locomotion in combination with other protocols, and delineate the use of oxytocin to strengthen the efficiency of electrical stimulation to activate locomotor circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Dose
- Neuroscience Department, International School for Advanced Studies (S.I.S.S.A.), Trieste, Italy
- Spinal Person Injury Neurorehabilitation Applied Laboratory (S.P.I.N.A.L.), Istituto di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione (IMFR), Udine, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zanon
- Neuroscience Department, International School for Advanced Studies (S.I.S.S.A.), Trieste, Italy
- Spinal Person Injury Neurorehabilitation Applied Laboratory (S.P.I.N.A.L.), Istituto di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione (IMFR), Udine, Italy
| | - Tamara Coslovich
- Neuroscience Department, International School for Advanced Studies (S.I.S.S.A.), Trieste, Italy
- Spinal Person Injury Neurorehabilitation Applied Laboratory (S.P.I.N.A.L.), Istituto di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione (IMFR), Udine, Italy
| | - Giuliano Taccola
- Neuroscience Department, International School for Advanced Studies (S.I.S.S.A.), Trieste, Italy
- Spinal Person Injury Neurorehabilitation Applied Laboratory (S.P.I.N.A.L.), Istituto di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione (IMFR), Udine, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Elkabes S, Nicot AB. Sex steroids and neuroprotection in spinal cord injury: a review of preclinical investigations. Exp Neurol 2014; 259:28-37. [PMID: 24440641 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2013] [Revised: 12/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that affects motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Subsequent to the first mechanical trauma, secondary events, which include inflammation and glial activation, exacerbate tissue damage and worsen functional deficits. Although these secondary injury mechanisms are amenable to therapeutic interventions, the efficacy of current approaches is inadequate. Further investigations are necessary to implement new therapies that can protect neural cells and attenuate some of the detrimental effects of inflammation while promoting regeneration. Studies on different animal models of SCI indicated that sex steroids, especially 17β-estradiol and progesterone, exert neuroprotective, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, ameliorate tissue sparing and improve functional deficits in SCI. As sex steroid receptors are expressed in a variety of cells including neurons, glia and immune system-related cells which infiltrate the injury epicenter, sex steroids could impact multiple processes simultaneously and in doing so, influence the outcomes of SCI. However, the translation of these pre-clinical findings into the clinical setting presents challenges such as the narrow therapeutic time window of sex steroid administration, the diversity of treatment regimens that have been employed in animal studies and the lack of sufficient information regarding the persistence of the effects in chronic SCI. The current review will summarize some of the major findings in this field and will discuss the challenges associated with the implementation of sex steroids as a promising treatment in human SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Elkabes
- The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Arnaud B Nicot
- UMR 1064, INSERM, Nantes, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nantes, France; ITUN, CHU de Nantes, France
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