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Chen QY, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Zhuo M. Inhibition of cortical synaptic transmission, behavioral nociceptive, and anxiodepressive-like responses by arecoline in adult mice. Mol Brain 2024; 17:39. [PMID: 38886822 PMCID: PMC11184806 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-024-01106-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Areca nut, the seed of Areca catechu L., is one of the most widely consumed addictive substances in the world after nicotine, ethanol, and caffeine. The major effective constituent of A. catechu, arecoline, has been reported to affect the central nervous system. Less is known if it may affect pain and its related emotional responses. In this study, we found that oral application of arecoline alleviated the inflammatory pain and its induced anxiolytic and anti-depressive-like behavior. Arecoline also increased the mechanical nociceptive threshold and alleviated depression-like behavior in naïve mice. In the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which acts as a hinge of nociception and its related anxiety and depression, by using the multi-electrode field potential recording and whole-cell patch-clamp recording, we found that the evoked postsynaptic transmission in the ACC of adult mice has been inhibited by the application of arecoline. The muscarinic receptor is the major receptor of the arecoline in the ACC. Our results suggest that arecoline alleviates pain, anxiety, and depression-like behavior in both physiological and pathological conditions, and this new mechanism may help to treat patients with chronic pain and its related anxiety and disorder in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yu Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Interdisciplinary Center for Brain Information, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Zhuomin International Institute for Brain Research, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuxiang Zhang
- Zhuomin International Institute for Brain Research, Qingdao, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujie Ma
- Zhuomin International Institute for Brain Research, Qingdao, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Min Zhuo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
- Zhuomin International Institute for Brain Research, Qingdao, China.
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Science Building, Room #3342, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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Kummer K, Sheets PL. Targeting Prefrontal Cortex Dysfunction in Pain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 389:268-276. [PMID: 38702195 PMCID: PMC11125798 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.002046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has justifiably become a significant focus of chronic pain research. Collectively, decades of rodent and human research have provided strong rationale for studying the dysfunction of the PFC as a contributing factor in the development and persistence of chronic pain and as a key supraspinal mechanism for pain-induced comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Chronic pain alters the structure, chemistry, and connectivity of PFC in both humans and rodents. In this review, we broadly summarize the complexities of reported changes within both rodent and human PFC caused by pain and offer insight into potential pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches for targeting PFC to treat chronic pain and pain-associated comorbidities. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Chronic pain is a significant unresolved medical problem causing detrimental changes to physiological, psychological, and behavioral aspects of life. Drawbacks of currently approved pain therapeutics include incomplete efficacy and potential for abuse producing a critical need for novel approaches to treat pain and comorbid disorders. This review provides insight into how manipulation of prefrontal cortex circuits could address this unmet need of more efficacious and safer pain therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kummer
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (K.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (P.L.S.), Medical Neurosciences Graduate Program (P.L.S.), and Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (P.L.S.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Patrick L Sheets
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (K.K.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (P.L.S.), Medical Neurosciences Graduate Program (P.L.S.), and Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (P.L.S.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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3
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Lançon K, Séguéla P. Dysregulated neuromodulation in the anterior cingulate cortex in chronic pain. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1289218. [PMID: 37954846 PMCID: PMC10634228 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1289218] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a significant global socioeconomic burden with limited long-term treatment options. The intractable nature of chronic pain stems from two primary factors: the multifaceted nature of pain itself and an insufficient understanding of the diverse physiological mechanisms that underlie its initiation and maintenance, in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. The development of novel non-opioidergic analgesic approaches is contingent on our ability to normalize the dysregulated nociceptive pathways involved in pathological pain processing. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) stands out due to its involvement in top-down modulation of pain perception, its abnormal activity in chronic pain conditions, and its contribution to cognitive functions frequently impaired in chronic pain states. Here, we review the roles of the monoamines dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and other neuromodulators in controlling the activity of the ACC and how chronic pain alters their signaling in ACC circuits to promote pathological hyperexcitability. Additionally, we discuss the potential of targeting these monoaminergic pathways as a therapeutic strategy for treating the cognitive and affective symptoms associated with chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippe Séguéla
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Darvish-Ghane S, Baumbach J, Martin LJ. Influence of Inflammatory Pain and Dopamine on Synaptic Transmission in the Mouse ACC. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11113. [PMID: 37446289 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) inhibits excitatory synaptic transmission in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a brain region involved in the sensory and affective processing of pain. However, the DA modulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the ACC and its alteration of the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance remains relatively understudied. Using patch-clamp recordings, we demonstrate that neither DA applied directly to the tissue slice nor complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injected into the hind paw significantly impacted excitatory currents (eEPSCs) in the ACC, when recorded without pharmacological isolation. However, individual neurons exhibited varied responses to DA, with some showing inhibition, potentiation, or no response. The degree of eEPSC inhibition by DA was higher in naïve slices compared to that in the CFA condition. The baseline inhibitory currents (eIPSCs) were greater in the CFA-treated slices, and DA specifically inhibited eIPSCs in the CFA-treated, but not naïve group. DA and CFA treatment did not alter the balance between excitatory and inhibitory currents. Spontaneous synaptic activity revealed that DA reduced the frequency of the excitatory currents in CFA-treated mice and decreased the amplitude of the inhibitory currents, specifically in CFA-treated mice. However, the overall synaptic drive remained similar between the naïve and CFA-treated mice. Additionally, GABAergic currents were pharmacologically isolated and found to be robustly inhibited by DA through postsynaptic D2 receptors and G-protein activity. Overall, the study suggests that CFA-induced inflammation and DA do not significantly affect the balance between excitatory and inhibitory currents in ACC neurons, but activity-dependent changes may be observed in the DA modulation of presynaptic glutamate release in the presence of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Darvish-Ghane
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Jennet Baumbach
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Loren J Martin
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
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Ji YW, Shen ZL, Zhang X, Zhang K, Jia T, Xu X, Geng H, Han Y, Yin C, Yang JJ, Cao JL, Zhou C, Xiao C. Plasticity in ventral pallidal cholinergic neuron-derived circuits contributes to comorbid chronic pain-like and depression-like behaviour in male mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2182. [PMID: 37069246 PMCID: PMC10110548 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37968-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleus- and cell-specific interrogation of individual basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic circuits is crucial for refining targets to treat comorbid chronic pain-like and depression-like behaviour. As the ventral pallidum (VP) in the BF regulates pain perception and emotions, we aim to address the role of VP-derived cholinergic circuits in hyperalgesia and depression-like behaviour in chronic pain mouse model. In male mice, VP cholinergic neurons innervate local non-cholinergic neurons and modulate downstream basolateral amygdala (BLA) neurons through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These cholinergic circuits are mobilized by pain-like stimuli and become hyperactive during persistent pain. Acute stimulation of VP cholinergic neurons and the VP-BLA cholinergic projection reduces pain threshold in naïve mice whereas inhibition of the circuits elevated pain threshold in pain-like states. Multi-day repetitive modulation of the VP-BLA cholinergic pathway regulates depression-like behaviour in persistent pain. Therefore, VP-derived cholinergic circuits are implicated in comorbid hyperalgesia and depression-like behaviour in chronic pain mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wei Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zi-Lin Shen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kairan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Tao Jia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xiangying Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Huizhen Geng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yu Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
| | - Cui Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian-Jun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Chunyi Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Cheng Xiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, School of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Cilostazol Alleviates NLRP3 Inflammasome-Induced Allodynia/Hyperalgesia in Murine Cerebral Cortex Following Transient Ischemia: Focus on TRPA1/Glutamate and Akt/Dopamine/BDNF/Nrf2 Trajectories. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:7194-7211. [PMID: 36127628 PMCID: PMC9616778 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03024-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) provokes inflammation that augments neuropathic pain. Cilostazol (CLZ) has pleiotropic effects including neuroprotection in several ravaging central disorders; nonetheless, its potential role in transient central ischemic-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia has not been asserted before. Rats were allocated into 4 groups; sham, sham + CLZ, and 45 min-bilateral carotid occlusion followed by a 48 h-reperfusion period either with or without CLZ (50 mg/kg; p.o) post-treatment. CLZ prolonged latency of hindlimb withdrawal following von Frey filaments, 4 °C cold, and noxious mechanical stimulations. Histopathological alterations and the immunoexpression of glial fibrillary acidic protein induced by I/R were reduced by CLZ in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) area, while, CLZ enhanced intact neuronal count. Meanwhile, CLZ modulated cerebral cortical glutamate, dopamine neurotransmission, and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). CLZ anti-inflammatory potential was mediated by the downregulated p65 NF-κB and sirtuin-1 enhancement to reduce nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), active caspase-1, and interleukin-1β, indicative of inflammasome deactivation. It also revealed an antioxidant capacity via boosting nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) enhancing glutathione through forkhead box protein O3a (FOXO3a) reduction. Additionally, CLZ triggered neuronal survival by promoting the p-content of Akt, TrkB, and CREB as well as BDNF content. A novel approach of CLZ in hindering global cerebral I/R-mediated neuropathy is firstly documented herein to forward its adjunct action via deactivating the NLRP3 inflammasome, besides enhancing Nrf2 axis, neuronal survival, and dopamine neurotransmission as well as inhibiting TRPA1 and excitotoxicity.
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Ng SY, Ariffin MZ, Khanna S. Neurokinin receptor mechanisms in forebrain medial septum modulate nociception in the formalin model of inflammatory pain. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24358. [PMID: 34934106 PMCID: PMC8692436 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03661-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study has explored the hypothesis that neurokinin1 receptors (NK1Rs) in medial septum (MS) modulate nociception evoked on hind paw injection of formalin. Indeed, the NK1Rs in MS are localized on cholinergic neurons which have been implicated in nociception. In anaesthetized rat, microinjection of L-733,060, an antagonist at NK1Rs, into MS antagonized the suppression of CA1 population spike (PS) evoked on peripheral injection of formalin or on intraseptal microinjection of substance P (SP), an agonist at NK1Rs. The CA1 PS reflects the synaptic excitability of pyramidal cells in the region. Furthermore, microinjection of L-733,060 into MS, but not LS, attenuated formalin-induced theta activation in both anaesthetized and awake rat, where theta reflects an oscillatory information processing by hippocampal neurons. The effects of L-733,060 on microinjection into MS were nociceptive selective as the antagonist did not block septo-hippocampal response to direct MS stimulation by the cholinergic receptor agonist, carbachol, in anaesthetized animal or on exploration in awake animal. Interestingly, microinjection of L-733,060 into both MS and LS attenuated formalin-induced nociceptive flinches. Collectively, the foregoing novel findings highlight that transmission at NK1R provide an affective valence to septo-hippocampal information processing and that peptidergic transmission in the septum modulates nociceptive behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Yun Ng
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD9, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117593 Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Neurobiology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mohammed Zacky Ariffin
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD9, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117593 Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Neurobiology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sanjay Khanna
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD9, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117593, Singapore. .,Neurobiology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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Suzuki E, Momiyama T. M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated inhibition of GABA release from striatal medium spiny neurons onto cholinergic interneurons. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 53:796-813. [PMID: 33270289 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Acetylcholine (ACh) modulates neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system. Although GABAergic transmission onto the striatal cholinergic interneurons (ChIN) is modulated by dopamine receptors, cholinergic modulation of the same synapse is still unknown. In the present study, modulatory roles of ACh in the GABAergic transmission from striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) onto ChIN were investigated using optogenetics and whole-cell patch-clamp technique in juvenile and young-adult mice brain slices. GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were evoked by focal electrical- or blue-light stimulation. Bath application of carbachol, a muscarinic ACh receptor agonist, suppressed the amplitude of IPSCs in a concentration-dependent manner in both age groups. A choline esterase inhibitor, physostigmine, also suppressed the amplitude of IPSCs. In the presence of a membrane permeable M1 muscarine receptor antagonist, pirenzepine, carbachol-induced suppression of IPSCs was antagonized, whereas a M2 muscarine receptor antagonist, a M4 receptor antagonist, or a membrane impermeable M1 receptor antagonist did not antagonize carbachol-induced suppression of IPSCs. Retrograde cannabinoid cascade via cannabinoid receptor 1 was not involved in carbachol-induced inhibition. Furthermore, carbachol did not affect amplitude of inward currents induced by puff application of GABA, whereas coefficient of variation of IPSCs was significantly increased by carbachol. These results suggest that activation of presynaptic M1 muscarine receptors located on the GABAergic terminals including intracellular organelle of MSNs inhibits GABA release onto ChIN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etsuko Suzuki
- Department of Pharmacology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Momiyama
- Department of Pharmacology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Kummer KK, Mitrić M, Kalpachidou T, Kress M. The Medial Prefrontal Cortex as a Central Hub for Mental Comorbidities Associated with Chronic Pain. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3440. [PMID: 32414089 PMCID: PMC7279227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain patients frequently develop and suffer from mental comorbidities such as depressive mood, impaired cognition, and other significant constraints of daily life, which can only insufficiently be overcome by medication. The emotional and cognitive components of pain are processed by the medial prefrontal cortex, which comprises the anterior cingulate cortex, the prelimbic, and the infralimbic cortex. All three subregions are significantly affected by chronic pain: magnetic resonance imaging has revealed gray matter loss in all these areas in chronic pain conditions. While the anterior cingulate cortex appears hyperactive, prelimbic, and infralimbic regions show reduced activity. The medial prefrontal cortex receives ascending, nociceptive input, but also exerts important top-down control of pain sensation: its projections are the main cortical input of the periaqueductal gray, which is part of the descending inhibitory pain control system at the spinal level. A multitude of neurotransmitter systems contributes to the fine-tuning of the local circuitry, of which cholinergic and GABAergic signaling are particularly emerging as relevant components of affective pain processing within the prefrontal cortex. Accordingly, factors such as distraction, positive mood, and anticipation of pain relief such as placebo can ameliorate pain by affecting mPFC function, making this cortical area a promising target region for medical as well as psychosocial interventions for pain therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michaela Kress
- Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (K.K.K.); (M.M.); (T.K.)
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Electroacupuncture Alleviates Pain-Related Emotion by Upregulating the Expression of NPS and Its Receptor NPSR in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Hypothalamus. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:8630368. [PMID: 32104195 PMCID: PMC7035524 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8630368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Objective Electroacupuncture (EA) is reported effective in alleviating pain-related emotion; however, the underlying mechanism of its effects still needs to be elucidated. The NPS-NPSR system has been validated for the involvement in the modulation of analgesia and emotional behavior. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of the NPS-NPSR system in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hypothalamus, and central amygdala (CeA) in the use of EA to relieve affective pain modeled by complete Freund's adjuvant- (CFA-) evoked conditioned place aversion (C-CPA). Materials and Methods. CFA injection combined with a CPA paradigm was introduced to establish the C-CPA model, and the elevated O-maze (EOM) was used to test the behavioral changes after model establishment. We further explored the expression of NPS and NPSR at the protein and gene levels in the brain regions of interest by immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time PCR. Results We observed that EA stimulation delivered to the bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Kunlun (BL60) acupoints remarkably inhibited sensory pain, pain-evoked place aversion, and anxiety-like behavior. The current study showed that EA significantly enhanced the protein expression of this peptide system in the ACC and hypothalamus, while the elevated expression of NPSR protein alone was just confined to the affected side in the CeA. Moreover, EA remarkably upregulated the mRNA expression of NPS in CeA, ACC, and hypothalamus and NPSR mRNA in the hypothalamus and CeA. Conclusions These data suggest the effectiveness of EA in alleviating affective pain, and these benefits may at least partially be attributable to the upregulation of the NPS-NPSR system in the ACC and hypothalamus.
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Zerimech S, Chever O, Scalmani P, Pizzamiglio L, Duprat F, Mantegazza M. Cholinergic modulation inhibits cortical spreading depression in mouse neocortex through activation of muscarinic receptors and decreased excitatory/inhibitory drive. Neuropharmacology 2020; 166:107951. [PMID: 31945385 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.107951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a wave of transient network hyperexcitability leading to long lasting depolarization and block of firing, which initiates focally and slowly propagates in the cerebral cortex. It causes migraine aura and it has been implicated in the generation of migraine headache. Cortical excitability can be modulated by cholinergic actions, leading in neocortical slices to the generation of rhythmic synchronous activities (UP/DOWN states). We investigated the effect of cholinergic activation with the cholinomimetic agonist carbachol on CSD triggered with 130 mM KCl pulse injections in acute mouse neocortical brain slices, hypothesizing that the cholinergic-induced increase of cortical network excitability during UP states could facilitate CSD. We observed instead an inhibitory effect of cholinergic activation on both initiation and propagation of CSD, through the action of muscarinic receptors. In fact, carbachol-induced CSD inhibition was blocked by atropine or by the preferential M1 muscarinic antagonist telenzepine; the preferential M1 muscarinic agonist McN-A-343 inhibited CSD similarly to carbachol, and its effect was blocked by telenzepine. Recordings of spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic currents in pyramidal neurons showed that McN-A-343 induced overall a decrease of the excitatory/inhibitory ratio. This inhibitory action may be targeted for novel pharmacological approaches in the treatment of migraine with muscarinic agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Zerimech
- Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; CNRS UMR7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Oana Chever
- Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; CNRS UMR7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Paolo Scalmani
- U.O. VII Clinical Epileptology and Experimental Neurophysiology, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Lara Pizzamiglio
- Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; CNRS UMR7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Fabrice Duprat
- Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; CNRS UMR7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; Inserm, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Massimo Mantegazza
- Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; CNRS UMR7275, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France; Inserm, Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France.
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Muscarinic M 1 receptors stimulated by intracerebroventricular administration of McN-A-343 reduces the nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity via GABA B receptors rather than GABA A receptors in mice. J Pharmacol Sci 2019; 142:50-59. [PMID: 31818640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic neurons play an important role in the higher functions of the brain, such as the memory, cognition, and nociception. However, the exact mechanism behind how the stimulation of all the muscarinic M1 receptors in the entire brain results in the alleviation of partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL)-induced mechanical hypersensitivity has not been investigated. Thus, we examined which subtype of GABA receptor was involved in the alleviation of PSNL-induce mechanical hypersensitivity produced by an intracerebroventricular administration of a muscarinic M1 receptor agonist, McN-A-343. Administering a GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline, resulted in no changes to the McN-A-343-induced anti-hypersensitivity in PSNL mice whereas a GABAB receptor antagonist, CGP35348, dose-dependently inhibited the anti-hypersensitivity. Furthermore, CGP35348 increased mechanical hypersensitivity in naïve mice, and the hypersensitivity was blocked by NMDA receptor antagonists, MK-801 and D-AP5. Additionally, muscarinic M1 receptors colocalized with GABAB1 receptors and an NMDA receptor subunit, GluN2A, in a large region of the brain. Consequently, these results suggest that the activation of muscarinic M1 receptors in the entire brain reduces nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity via the GABAB receptors, and the activation of the GABAB receptors regulates glutamatergic transmission via NMDA receptors.
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Koga K, Matsuzaki Y, Migita K, Shimoyama S, Eto F, Nakagawa T, Matsumoto T, Terada K, Mishima K, Furue H, Honda K. Stimulating muscarinic M1 receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex reduces mechanical hypersensitivity via GABAergic transmission in nerve injury rats. Brain Res 2019; 1704:187-195. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Chen S, Rong Y, Liu M, Cheng S, Liu X, Li X, Yu Y, Yang G, Yang X. Analgesic Effects of Triterpenoid Saponins From Stauntonia chinensis via Selective Increase in Inhibitory Synaptic Response in Mouse Cortical Neurons. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1302. [PMID: 30483136 PMCID: PMC6241161 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Triterpenoid saponins from Stauntonia chinensis (TSS) are potential therapeutic agents because of its analgesic properties. However, the underlying mechanisms of the anti-nociceptive activity of TSS are largely unclear, especially in CNS. The present study confirmed the analgesic effect of TSS using four models of acute pain based on thermal or chemical stimuli. TSS treatment specifically impaired the threshold of thermal- and chemical-stimulated acute pain. Naloxone did not block the anti-nociceptive effects of TSS, which showed no participation of the opioid system. We investigated the electrical signal in cultured cortical neurons to explore whether TSS treatment directly affected synaptic transmission. TSS treatment selectively increased spontaneous inhibitory synaptic release and GABA induced charge transfer in mouse cortical neurons. The effects of TSS were maintained for at least 8 h in cultured neurons and in injected mice. Taken together, our results suggest that the analgesic role of TSS in cortex occurs via a particular increase in the inhibitory synaptic response at resting state, which supports TSS as a potential candidate for inflammatory pain relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Rong
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengxue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Song Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangming Liu
- Gongqing Institute of Science and Technology, Gongqing, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Cancer, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangzhong Yang
- Laboratory for Natural Products Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
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Fan YF, Guan SY, Luo L, Li YJ, Yang L, Zhou XX, Guo GD, Zhao MG, Yang Q, Liu G. Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside relieves the chronic inflammatory pain by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, microglia activation, and GluN2B overexpression in anterior cingulate cortex. Mol Pain 2018; 14:1744806918814367. [PMID: 30380983 PMCID: PMC6259074 DOI: 10.1177/1744806918814367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (THSG) is one of the active ingredients of Polygonum multiflorum. It has been shown to exert a variety of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-atherosclerosis. Because of its prominent anti-inflammatory effect, we explored whether THSG had analgesic effect. In this study, we used a model of chronic inflammatory pain caused by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant into the hind paw of mice. We found THSG relieved swelling and pain in the hind paw of mice on a dose-dependent manner. In the anterior cingulate cortex, THSG suppressed the upregulation of GluN2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and the downregulation of GluN2A-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors caused by chronic inflammation. In addition, THSG increased Bcl-2 and decreased Bax and Caspase-3 expression by protecting neuronal survival. Furthermore, THSG inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and the increase of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that THSG blocked the activation of microglia and reduced the release of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that THSG had a certain effect on alleviating complete Freund's adjuvant-induced chronic inflammatory pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Fei Fan
- 1 Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shao-Yu Guan
- 2 Department of Pharmacy, Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.,3 Department of Nature Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Li Luo
- 2 Department of Pharmacy, Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan-Jiao Li
- 2 Department of Pharmacy, Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.,3 Department of Nature Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Le Yang
- 2 Department of Pharmacy, Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuan-Xuan Zhou
- 3 Department of Nature Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guo-Dong Guo
- 1 Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ming-Gao Zhao
- 2 Department of Pharmacy, Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qi Yang
- 2 Department of Pharmacy, Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Liu
- 1 Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Koga K, Shimoyama S, Yamada A, Furukawa T, Nikaido Y, Furue H, Nakamura K, Ueno S. Chronic inflammatory pain induced GABAergic synaptic plasticity in the adult mouse anterior cingulate cortex. Mol Pain 2018; 14:1744806918783478. [PMID: 29956582 PMCID: PMC6096674 DOI: 10.1177/1744806918783478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic pain is a persistent unpleasant sensation that produces pathological synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system. Both human imaging study and animal studies consistently demonstrate that the anterior cingulate cortex is a critical cortical area for nociceptive and chronic pain processing. Thus far, the mechanisms of excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity have been well characterized in the anterior cingulate cortex for various models of chronic pain. By contrast, the potential contribution of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the anterior cingulate cortex, in models of chronic pain, is not fully understood. Methods Chronic inflammation was induced by complete Freund adjuvant into the adult mice left hindpaw. We performed in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from layer II/III pyramidal neurons in two to three days after the complete Freund adjuvant injection and examined if the model could cause plastic changes, including transient and tonic type A γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission, in the anterior cingulate cortex. We analyzed miniature/spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents, GABAA receptor-mediated tonic currents, and evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Finally, we studied if GABAergic transmission-related proteins in the presynapse and postsynapse of the anterior cingulate cortex were altered. Results The complete Freund adjuvant model reduced the frequency of both miniature and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents compared with control group. By contrast, the average amplitude of these currents was not changed between two groups. Additionally, the complete Freund adjuvant model did not change GABAA receptor-mediated tonic currents nor the set of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents when compared with control group. Importantly, protein expression of vesicular GABA transporter was reduced within the presynpase of the anterior cingulate cortex in complete Freund adjuvant model. In contrast, the complete Freund adjuvant model did not change the protein levels of GABAA receptors subunits such as α1, α5, β2, γ2, and δ. Conclusion Our results suggest that the induction phase of inflammatory pain involves spontaneous GABAergic plasticity at presynaptic terminals of the anterior cingulate cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Koga
- 1 Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan.,2 Department of Neurophysiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - Shuji Shimoyama
- 1 Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan.,3 Research Center for Child Mental Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamada
- 2 Department of Neurophysiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - Tomonori Furukawa
- 1 Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Nikaido
- 1 Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Hidemasa Furue
- 2 Department of Neurophysiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakamura
- 3 Research Center for Child Mental Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Shinya Ueno
- 1 Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
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Migita K, Matsuzaki Y, Koga K, Matsumoto T, Mishima K, Hara S, Honda K. Involvement of GABA B receptor in the antihypersensitive effect in anterior cingulate cortex of partial sciatic nerve ligation model. J Pharmacol Sci 2018; 137:233-236. [PMID: 30078433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the GABAB receptor in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of neuropathic pain is unclear. Injection of a GABAB receptor antagonist CGP35348 into the ACC induced mechanical hypersensitivity in normal rats. Activation of the GABAB receptor injected by a GABAB receptor agonist baclofen into the ACC attenuated mechanical hypersensitivity in partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) rats. Co-microinjection of CGP35348 with a muscarinic M1 receptor agonist McN-A-343 into the ACC significantly inhibited McN-A-343-induced antihypersensitivity in PSNL rats. These results suggest that the GABAB receptor in the ACC contributes to mechanical hypersensitivity and is involved in muscarinic M1 receptor-mediated antihypersensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Migita
- Department of Drug Informatics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan.
| | - Yu Matsuzaki
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan
| | - Kohei Koga
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan
| | - Taichi Matsumoto
- Department of Drug Informatics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan
| | - Kenichi Mishima
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan
| | - Shuji Hara
- Department of Drug Informatics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan
| | - Kenji Honda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan.
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Naser PV, Kuner R. Molecular, Cellular and Circuit Basis of Cholinergic Modulation of Pain. Neuroscience 2017; 387:135-148. [PMID: 28890048 PMCID: PMC6150928 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Revised: 08/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In addition to being a key component of the autonomic nervous system, acetylcholine acts as a prominent neurotransmitter and neuromodulator upon release from key groups of cholinergic projection neurons and interneurons distributed across the central nervous system. It has been more than forty years since it was discovered that cholinergic transmission profoundly modifies the perception of pain. Directly activating cholinergic receptors or extending the action of endogenous acetylcholine via pharmacological blockade of acetylcholine esterase reduces pain in rodents as well as humans; conversely, inhibition of muscarinic cholinergic receptors induces nociceptive hypersensitivity. Here, we aim to review the considerable progress in our understanding of peripheral, spinal and brain contributions to cholinergic modulation of pain. We discuss the distribution of cholinergic neurons, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors over the central nervous system and the synaptic and circuit-level modulation by cholinergic signaling. AchRs profoundly regulate nociceptive transmission at the level of the spinal cord via pre- as well as postsynaptic mechanisms. Moreover, we attempt to provide an overview of how some of the salient regions in the pain network spanning the brain, such as the primary somatosensory cortex, insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, the medial prefrontal cortex and descending modulatory systems are influenced by cholinergic modulation. Finally, we critically discuss the clinical relevance of cholinergic signaling to pain therapy. Cholinergic mechanisms contribute to several both conventional as well as unorthodox forms of pain treatments, and reciprocal interactions between cholinergic and opioidergic modulation impact on the function and efficacy of both opioids and cholinomimetic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul V Naser
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Cell Networks Cluster of Excellence, Heidelberg University, Germany.
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Cholinergic/opioid interaction in anterior cingulate cortex reduces the nociceptive response of vocalization in guinea pigs. Brain Res 2017; 1671:131-137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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