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Li LH, Ling DD, Lin H, Wang ZC, Sun ZR, Zhang YQ, Yang L, Zhang J, Cao H. Ovariectomy induces hyperalgesia accompanied by upregulated estrogen receptor α and protein kinase B in the rat spinal cord. Physiol Behav 2023; 271:114342. [PMID: 37673233 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114342] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Hormone supplementation is one of the common therapies for menopause-related disorders. Among different tools, the ovariectomy (OVX) rodents are widely accepted as an appropriate menopausal pain model. Our previous study has showed that OVX produces a significant pain facilitation in both acute pain and tonic pain, however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of OVX treatment and estradiol (E2) supplementation on formalin-induced nociceptive responses, and explored the associated spinal mechanisms. Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent bilateral OVX, and E2 supplementation was given subcutaneously from the 5th week after surgery (30 μg/day for 7 days). Our results showed that formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors did not differ between diestrus and proestrus stages of the estrous in intact rats. However, OVX exacerbated formalin-evoked inflammatory pain, especially in the late phase at 4-5 weeks but not 2 weeks post-surgery. E2 supplementation significantly reversed the OVX-triggered hyperalgesia. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed that both ERα and ERβ in the spinal dorsal horn were co-labeled with the neuronal markers, but not with markers of astrocytes or microglia. The spinal ERα (but not ERβ) expression significantly increased in the OVX group, which was reversed by E2 supplementation. Moreover, the OVX individuals showed an increased protein kinase B (AKT) level in lumbar spinal cord, and E2 supplementation diminished the AKT expression in OVX rats. Finally, intrathecal injection Wortmannin, an inhibitor for AKT signaling, effectively reduced the nociceptive behaviors in the late phase and the number of c-fos positive cells. Together, our findings indicate that E2 supplementation alleviates the OVX-induced hyperalgesia, which might be involved in spinal ERα and AKT mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Hong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan-Dan Ling
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhe-Chen Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhi-Rong Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Qiu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Shanghai Dunlu Biomedical Technology Co. Ltd. Shanghai 201611, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Spekker E, Bohár Z, Fejes-Szabó A, Szűcs M, Vécsei L, Párdutz Á. Estradiol Treatment Enhances Behavioral and Molecular Changes Induced by Repetitive Trigeminal Activation in a Rat Model of Migraine. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123175. [PMID: 36551931 PMCID: PMC9776064 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123175] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. It is up to three times more common in women than men, thus, estrogen may play an important role in the appearance attacks. Its exact pathomechanism is still unknown; however, the activation and sensitization of the trigeminal system play an essential role. We aimed to use an animal model, which would better illustrate the process of repeated episodic migraine attacks to reveal possible new mechanisms of trigeminal pain chronification. Twenty male (M) and forty ovariectomized (OVX) female adult rats were used for our experiment. Male rats were divided into two groups (M + SIF, M + IS), while female rats were divided into four groups (OVX + SIF, OVX + IS, OVX + E2 + SIF, OVX + E2 + IS); half of the female rats received capsules filled with cholesterol (OVX + SIF, OVX + IS), while the other half received a 1:1 mixture of cholesterol and 17β-estradiol (OVX + E2 + SIF, OVX + E2 + IS). The animals received synthetic interstitial fluid (SIF) (M + SIF, OVX + SIF, OVX + E2 + SIF) or inflammatory soup (IS) (M + IS, OVX + IS, OVX + E2 + IS) treatment on the dural surface through a cannula for three consecutive days each week (12 times in total). Behavior tests and immunostainings were performed. After IS application, a significant decrease was observed in the pain threshold in the M + IS (0.001 < p < 0.5), OVX + IS (0.01 < p < 0.05), and OVX + E2 + IS (0.001 < p < 0.05) groups compared to the control groups (M + SIF; OVX + SIF, OVX + E2 + SIF). The locomotor activity of the rats was lower in the IS treated groups (M + IS, 0.01 < p < 0.05; OVX + IS, p < 0.05; OVX + E2 + IS, 0.001 < p < 0.05), and these animals spent more time in the dark room (M + IS, p < 0.05; OVX + IS, 0.01 < p < 0.05; OVX + E2 + IS, 0.001 < p < 0.01). We found a significant difference between M + IS and OVX + E2 + IS groups (p < 0.05) in the behavior tests. Furthermore, IS increased the area covered by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive (IR) fibers (M + IS, p < 0.01; OVX + IS, p < 0.01; OVX + E2 + IS, p < 0.001) and the number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) IR cells (M + IS, 0.001< p < 0.05; OVX + IS, 0.01 < p < 0.05; OVX + E2 + IS, 0.001 < p < 0.05) in the caudal trigeminal nucleus (TNC). There was no difference between M + IS and OVX + IS groups; however, the area was covered by CGRP IR fibers (0.01 < p < 0.05) and the number of nNOS IR cells was significantly higher in the OVX + E2 + IS (p < 0.05) group than the other two IS- (M + IS, OVX + IS) treated animals. Overall, repeated administration of IS triggers activation and sensitization processes and develops nociceptive behavior changes. CGRP and nNOS levels increased significantly in the TNC after IS treatments, and moreover, pain thresholds and locomotor activity decreased with the development of photophobia. In our model, stable high estradiol levels proved to be pronociceptive. Thus, repeated trigeminal activation causes marked behavioral changes, which is more prominent in rats treated with estradiol, also reflected by the expression of the sensitization markers of the trigeminal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonóra Spekker
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Bohár
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Annamária Fejes-Szabó
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mónika Szűcs
- Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 9, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Vécsei
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-62-545-351; Fax: +36-62-545-597
| | - Árpád Párdutz
- Department of Neurology, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
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Kaur S, McDonald H, Tongkhuya S, Lopez CM, Ananth S, Hickman TM, Averitt DL. Estrogen exacerbates the nociceptive effects of peripheral serotonin on rat trigeminal sensory neurons. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2021; 10:100073. [PMID: 34504982 PMCID: PMC8414175 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2021.100073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Orofacial pain disorders involving trigeminal sensory neurons disproportionately affect women and can be modulated by hormones, especially estrogen (E2). Proinflammatory mediators, like serotonin (5HT), can act on sensory neurons expressing the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channel, resulting in peripheral sensitization. We previously reported peripheral 5HT evokes greater pain behaviors in the hindpaw of female rats during proestrus and estrus, stages when E2 fluctuates. It is unknown if this interaction is comparable in the trigeminal system. We hypothesized that E2 exacerbates 5HT-evoked nocifensive pain behaviors and pain signaling in female trigeminal sensory neurons. We report 5HT-evoked nocifensive behaviors are significantly higher during estrus and proestrus, which is attenuated by blocking the 5HT2A receptor. The comparable dose of 5HT was not nociceptive in males unless capsaicin was also administered. When administered with capsaicin, a lower dose of 5HT evoked trigeminal pain behaviors in females during proestrus. Further, basal 5HT content in the vibrissal pad was higher in cycling females compared to males. Ex vivo, E2 enhanced 5HT-potentiated CGRP release from trigeminal neurons, which was not significantly reduced by blocking the 5HT2A receptor. Our data indicates that estrogen fluctuation influences the pronociceptive effects of 5HT on trigeminal sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhbir Kaur
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, United States
| | - Hanna McDonald
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, United States
| | - Sirima Tongkhuya
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, United States
| | - Cierra M.C. Lopez
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, United States
| | - Sushmitha Ananth
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, United States
| | - Taylor M. Hickman
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, United States
| | - Dayna L. Averitt
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204, United States
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Hornung RS, Benton WL, Tongkhuya S, Uphouse L, Kramer PR, Averitt DL. Progesterone and Allopregnanolone Rapidly Attenuate Estrogen-Associated Mechanical Allodynia in Rats with Persistent Temporomandibular Joint Inflammation. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:26. [PMID: 32457584 PMCID: PMC7225267 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is associated with pain in the joint (temporomandibular joint, TMJ) and muscles involved in mastication. TMD pain dissipates following menopause but returns in some women undergoing estrogen replacement therapy. Progesterone has both anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties, while estrogen's effects on nociception are variable and highly dependent on both natural hormone fluctuations and estrogen dosage during pharmacological treatments, with high doses increasing pain. Allopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite and positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor, also has antinociceptive properties. While progesterone and allopregnanolone are antinociceptive, their effect on estrogen-exacerbated TMD pain has not been determined. We hypothesized that removing the source of endogenous ovarian hormones would reduce inflammatory allodynia in the TMJ of rats and both progesterone and allopregnanolone would attenuate the estrogen-provoked return of allodynia. Baseline mechanical sensitivity was measured in female Sprague-Dawley rats (150-175 g) using the von Frey filament method followed by a unilateral injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the TMJ. Mechanical allodynia was confirmed 24 h later; then rats were ovariectomized or received sham surgery. Two weeks later, allodynia was reassessed and rats received one of the following subcutaneous hormone treatments over 5 days: a daily pharmacological dose of estradiol benzoate (E2; 50 μg/kg), daily E2 and pharmacological to sub-physiological doses of progesterone (P4; 16 mg/kg, 16 μg/kg, or 16 ng/kg), E2 daily and interrupted P4 given every other day, daily P4, or daily vehicle control. A separate group of animals received allopregnanolone (0.16 mg/kg) instead of P4. Allodynia was reassessed 1 h following injections. Here, we report that CFA-evoked mechanical allodynia was attenuated following ovariectomy and daily high E2 treatment triggered the return of allodynia, which was rapidly attenuated when P4 was also administered either daily or every other day. Allopregnanolone treatment, whether daily or every other day, also attenuated estrogen-exacerbated allodynia within 1 h of treatment, but only on the first treatment day. These data indicate that when gonadal hormone levels have diminished, treatment with a lower dose of progesterone may be effective at rapidly reducing the estrogen-evoked recurrence of inflammatory mechanical allodynia in the TMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Hornung
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, United States
| | - William L. Benton
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, United States
| | - Sirima Tongkhuya
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, United States
| | - Lynda Uphouse
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, United States
| | - Phillip R. Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Dayna Loyd Averitt
- Department of Biology, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, United States
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Xu Q, Sun L, Zhang W, Chen S, Wu H, Jiao C, Fu F, Feng Y, Yao H, Chen Q, Chen X. Effect of chronic pretreatment with 17β-estradiol and/or progesterone on the nociceptive response to uterine cervical distension in a rat model. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 865:172791. [PMID: 31712057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172791] [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: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
It is widely known that visceral pain is more prevalent in women than in men, and this phenomenon is interpreted as a consequence of the gonadal hormone modulation of pain perception and transduction. Uterine cervical distension might cause obstetric and gynecologic pain with clinical relevance to visceral pain. In this study, we focused on the roles of 17β-estradiol and progesterone in visceral nociception with the use of a rat model of uterine cervical distension. Female ovariectomized rats were injected with 17β-estradiol (E2) or progesterone (P4) for 21 days, after which visceral pain-induced spinal c-fos expression and visceromotor reflex changes were compared between ovariectomized and hormone-substituted groups. We found that uterine cervical distension induced a drastic increase in spinal c-fos expression and visceromotor reflex activity, and ovariectomy inhibited the increase in c-fos expression induced by visceral pain; this inhibition was reversed by estrogen but not progesterone replacement. This study demonstrates that estrogen is involved in uterine cervical nociception, while progesterone plays less of a significant role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xu
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lihong Sun
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenxin Zhang
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cuicui Jiao
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Fu
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huaqi Yao
- Department of Anesthesia, Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Huzhou, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinzhong Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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