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Chang X, Zhang H, Chen S. Neural circuits regulating visceral pain. Commun Biol 2024; 7:457. [PMID: 38615103 PMCID: PMC11016080 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06148-y] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Visceral hypersensitivity, a common clinical manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome, may contribute to the development of chronic visceral pain, which is a major challenge for both patients and health providers. Neural circuits in the brain encode, store, and transfer pain information across brain regions. In this review, we focus on the anterior cingulate cortex and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to highlight the progress in identifying the neural circuits involved in visceral pain. We also discuss several neural circuit mechanisms and emphasize the importance of cross-species, multiangle approaches and the identification of specific neurons in determining the neural circuits that control visceral pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Chang
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Shaozong Chen
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
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Walker J, Babyok OL, Saloman JL, Phillips AE. Recent advances in the understanding and management of chronic pancreatitis pain. JOURNAL OF PANCREATOLOGY 2024; 7:35-44. [PMID: 38524856 PMCID: PMC10959534 DOI: 10.1097/jp9.0000000000000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and is often debilitating for patients and very difficult to treat. To date, there exists no cure for the disease. Treatment strategies focus on symptom management and on mitigation of disease progression by reducing toxin exposure and avoiding recurrent inflammatory events. Traditional treatment protocols start with medical management followed by consideration of procedural or surgical intervention on selected patients with severe and persistent pain. The incorporation of adjuvant therapies to treat comorbidities including psychiatric disorders, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, mineral bone disease, frailty, and malnutrition, are in its early stages. Recent clinical studies and animal models have been designed to improve investigation into the pathophysiology of CP pain, as well as to improve pain management. Despite the array of tools available, many therapeutic options for the management of CP pain provide incomplete relief. There still remains much to discover about the neural regulation of pancreas-related pain. In this review, we will discuss research from the last 5 years that has provided new insights into novel methods of pain phenotyping and the pathophysiology of CP pain. These discoveries have led to improvements in patient selection for optimization of outcomes for both medical and procedural management, and identification of potential future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Walker
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Olivia L. Babyok
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jami L. Saloman
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Center for Pain Research, Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Anna Evans Phillips
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Zhou JZ, Chen H, Xu WL, Fu Z, Zhou S, Zhu WJ, Zhang ZH. Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation Inhibited Central Nerve Growth Factor/Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase A/Phospholipase C-Gamma Signaling Pathway in Functional Dyspepsia Model Rats With Gastric Hypersensitivity. Neuromodulation 2024; 27:273-283. [PMID: 36801128 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Functional dyspepsia (FD), which has a complicated pathophysiologic process, is a common functional gastrointestinal disease. Gastric hypersensitivity is the key pathophysiological factor in patients with FD with chronic visceral pain. Auricular vagal nerve stimulation (AVNS) has the therapeutic effect of reducing gastric hypersensitivity by regulating the activity of the vagus nerve. However, the potential molecular mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AVNS on the brain-gut axis through the central nerve growth factor (NGF)/ tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA)/phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-γ) signaling pathway in FD model rats with gastric hypersensitivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS We established the FD model rats with gastric hypersensitivity by means of colon administration of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid on ten-day-old rat pups, whereas the control rats were given normal saline. AVNS, sham AVNS, K252a (an inhibitor of TrkA, intraperitoneally), and K252a + AVNS were performed on eight-week-old model rats for five consecutive days. The therapeutic effect of AVNS on gastric hypersensitivity was determined by the measurement of abdominal withdrawal reflex response to gastric distention. NGF in gastric fundus and NGF, TrkA, PLC-γ, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in the nucleus tractus solitaries (NTS) were detected separately by polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence tests. RESULTS It was found that a high level of NGF in gastric fundus and an upregulation of the NGF/TrkA/PLC-γ signaling pathway in NTS were manifested in model rats. Meanwhile, both AVNS treatment and the administration of K252a not only decreased NGF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expressions in gastric fundus but also reduced the mRNA expressions of NGF, TrkA, PLC-γ, and TRPV1 and inhibited the protein levels and hyperactive phosphorylation of TrkA/PLC-γ in NTS. In addition, the expressions of NGF and TrkA proteins in NTS were decreased significantly after the immunofluorescence assay. The K252a + AVNS treatment exerted a more sensitive effect on regulating the molecular expressions of the signal pathway than did the K252a treatment. CONCLUSION AVNS can regulate the brain-gut axis effectively through the central NGF/TrkA/PLC-γ signaling pathway in the NTS, which suggests a potential molecular mechanism of AVNS in ameliorating visceral hypersensitivity in FD model rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Zhu Zhou
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Huan Chen
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wan-Li Xu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhe Fu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuai Zhou
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Jian Zhu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhao-Hui Zhang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Stroman PW, Umraw M, Keast B, Algitami H, Hassanpour S, Merletti J. Structural and Physiological Modeling (SAPM) for the Analysis of Functional MRI Data Applied to a Study of Human Nociceptive Processing. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1568. [PMID: 38002528 PMCID: PMC10669617 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111568] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel method has been developed for analyzing connectivity between regions based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. This method, termed structural and physiological modeling (SAPM), combines information about blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) responses, anatomy, and physiology to model coordinated signaling across networks of regions, including input and output signaling from each region and whether signaling is predominantly inhibitory or excitatory. The present study builds on a prior proof-of-concept demonstration of the SAPM method by providing evidence for the choice of network model and anatomical sub-regions, demonstrating the reproducibility of the results and identifying statistical thresholds needed to infer significance. The method is further validated by applying it to investigate human nociceptive processing in the brainstem and spinal cord and comparing the results to the known neuroanatomy, including anatomical regions and inhibitory and excitatory signaling. The results of this analysis demonstrate that it is possible to obtain reliable information about input and output signaling from anatomical regions and to identify whether this signaling has predominantly inhibitory or excitatory effects. SAPM provides much more detailed information about neuroanatomy than was previously possible based on fMRI data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W. Stroman
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Physics, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Maya Umraw
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Brieana Keast
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Hannan Algitami
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Shima Hassanpour
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Jessica Merletti
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
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Li Y, Jiang Z, Zuo W, Huang C, Zhao J, Liu P, Wang J, Guo J, Zhang X, Wang M, Lu Y, Hou W, Wang Q. Sexual dimorphic distribution of G protein-coupled receptor 30 in pain-related regions of the mouse brain. J Neurochem 2023. [PMID: 37924265 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15995] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in pain sensitivity have contributed to the fact that medications for curing chronic pain are unsatisfactory. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Brain-derived estrogen participates in modulation of sex differences in pain and related emotion. G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), identified as a novel estrogen receptor with a different distribution than traditional receptors, has been proved to play a vital role in regulating pain affected by estrogen. However, the contribution of its distribution to sexually dimorphic pain-related behaviors has not been fully explored. In the current study, immunofluorescence assays were applied to mark the neurons expressing GPR30 in male and female mice (in metestrus and proestrus phase) in pain-related brain regions. The neurons that express CaMKIIα or VGAT were also labeled to observe overlap with GPR30. We found that females had more GPR30-positive (GPR30+ ) neurons in the primary somatosensory (S1) and insular cortex (IC) than males. In the lateral habenula (LHb) and the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), males had more GPR30+ neurons than females. Moreover, within the LHb, the expression of GPR30 varied with estrous cycle phase; females in metestrus had fewer GPR30+ neurons than those in proestrus. In addition, females had more GPR30+ neurons, which co-expressed CaMKIIα in the medial preoptic nucleus (mPOA) than males, while males had more than females in the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA). These findings may partly explain the different modulatory effects of GPR30 in pain and related emotional phenotypes between sexes and provide a basis for comprehension of sexual dimorphism in pain related to estrogen and GPR30, and finally provide new targets for exploiting new treatments of sex-specific pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Zhenhua Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
- Department of Nursing, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Wenqiang Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Chenchen Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jianshuai Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Peizheng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jingzhi Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Wugang Hou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
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Dou Z, Su N, Zhou Z, Mi A, Xu L, Zhou J, Sun S, Liu Y, Hao M, Li Z. Modulation of visceral pain by brain nuclei and brain circuits and the role of acupuncture: a narrative review. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1243232. [PMID: 38027491 PMCID: PMC10646320 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1243232] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral pain is a complex and heterogeneous pain condition that is often associated with pain-related negative emotional states, including anxiety and depression, and can exert serious effects on a patient's physical and mental health. According to modeling stimulation protocols, the current animal models of visceral pain mainly include the mechanical dilatation model, the ischemic model, and the inflammatory model. Acupuncture can exert analgesic effects by integrating and interacting input signals from acupuncture points and the sites of pain in the central nervous system. The brain nuclei involved in regulating visceral pain mainly include the nucleus of the solitary tract, parabrachial nucleus (PBN), locus coeruleus (LC), rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and the amygdala. The neural circuits involved are PBN-amygdala, LC-RVM, amygdala-insula, ACC-amygdala, claustrum-ACC, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis-PVN and the PVN-ventral lateral septum circuit. Signals generated by acupuncture can modulate the central structures and interconnected neural circuits of multiple brain regions, including the medulla oblongata, cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus. This analgesic process also involves the participation of various neurotransmitters and/or receptors, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamate, and enkephalin. In addition, acupuncture can regulate visceral pain by influencing functional connections between different brain regions and regulating glucose metabolism. However, there are still some limitations in the research efforts focusing on the specific brain mechanisms associated with the effects of acupuncture on the alleviation of visceral pain. Further animal experiments and clinical studies are now needed to improve our understanding of this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Dou
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Na Su
- First Clinical Medicine College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Ziyang Zhou
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Aoyue Mi
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Luyao Xu
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Jiazheng Zhou
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Sizhe Sun
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Yanyi Liu
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Mingyao Hao
- External Treatment Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
| | - Zhaofeng Li
- College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
- International Office, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, China
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Lyubashina OA, Sivachenko IB, Sushkevich BM, Busygina II. Opposing effects of 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone on supraspinal abdominal pain transmission in normal and visceral hypersensitive rats. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1555-1571. [PMID: 37331003 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The serotonergic 5-HT1A receptors are implicated in the central mechanisms of visceral pain, but their role in these processes is controversial. Considering existing evidences for organic inflammation-triggered neuroplastic changes in the brain serotonergic circuitry, the ambiguous contribution of 5-HT1A receptors to supraspinal control of visceral pain in normal and post-inflammatory conditions can be assumed. In this study performed on male Wistar rats, we used microelectrode recording of the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) neuron responses to colorectal distension (CRD) and electromyography recording of CRD-evoked visceromotor reactions (VMRs) to evaluate post-colitis changes in the effects of 5-HT1A agonist buspirone on supraspinal visceral nociceptive transmission. In rats recovered from trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis, the CRD-induced CVLM neuronal excitation and VMRs were increased compared with those in healthy animals, revealing post-inflammatory intestinal hypersensitivity. Intravenous buspirone (2 and 4 mg/kg) under urethane anesthesia dose-dependently suppressed CVLM excitatory neuron responses to noxious CRD in healthy rats, but caused dose-independent increase in the already enhanced nociceptive activation of CVLM neurons in post-colitis animals, losing also its normally occurring faciliatory effect on CRD-evoked inhibitory medullary neurotransmission and suppressive action on hemodynamic reactions to CRD. In line with this, subcutaneous injection of buspirone (2 mg/kg) in conscious rats, which attenuated CRD-induced VMRs in controls, further increased VMRs in hypersensitive animals. The data obtained indicate a shift from anti- to pronociceptive contribution of 5-HT1A-dependent mechanisms to supraspinal transmission of visceral nociception in intestinal hypersensitivity conditions, arguing for the disutility of buspirone and possibly other 5-HT1A agonists for relieving post-inflammatory abdominal pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Lyubashina
- Laboratory of Cortico-Visceral Physiology, Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ivan B Sivachenko
- Laboratory of Cortico-Visceral Physiology, Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Boris M Sushkevich
- Laboratory of Cortico-Visceral Physiology, Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina I Busygina
- Laboratory of Cortico-Visceral Physiology, Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Lu X, Zhang S. How Tongxie-Yaofang Regulates Intestinal Synaptic Plasticity by Activating Enteric Glial Cells and NGF/TrkA Pathway in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rats. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:2969-2983. [PMID: 37789966 PMCID: PMC10544122 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s423333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) is a frequent functional gastrointestinal disease that affects health and quality of life owing to its high incidence and recurrence rate. Tongxie-Yaofang (TXYF) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescribed for D-IBS. However, the therapeutic mechanism of TXYF has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TXYF on visceral hypersensitivity in stress-induced D-IBS rats and the underlying mechanisms. Methods Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the external oblique muscles and the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) score captured by Barostat were used to quantify the effect of TXYF on visceral sensitivity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the ultrastructure of the enteric nervous system (ENS). For molecular detection, the colonic expression of enteric glial cell's (EGC's) activation markers, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and calcium-binding protein S100β, NGF, TrkA, synaptic plasticity-related factors, synaptophysin (SYN) and postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), glutamate, glutamate receptors α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) were detected by immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time PCR. An ex vivo experiment was conducted to measure the EGC-induced NGF release. Results TXYF decreased the EMG activity and AWR scores in rats with D-IBS. Under TEM, TXYF improved the dense and irregular nerve arrangement, narrowed the synaptic cleft, and decreased the number of synaptic vesicles in D-IBS rats. In addition, TXYF decreased the expression of GFAP, S100β, SYN, and PSD-95; down-regulated the levels of NGF, TrkA, and glutamate; and reduced the mRNA expression of AMPAR1, NMDAR1, and NMDAR2B. In an ex vivo experiment, TXYF decreased NGF release in D-IBS rats, and this trend disappeared under EGC inhibition. Conclusion TXYF alleviated visceral hypersensitivity in D-IBS rats possibly by improving synaptic plasticity through inhibiting the activity of EGCs and the NGF/TrkA signaling pathway in the colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Lu
- Center of Digestive, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengsheng Zhang
- Center of Digestive, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Qi L, Lin SH, Ma Q. Spinal VGLUT3 lineage neurons drive visceral mechanical allodynia but not sensitized visceromotor reflexes. Neuron 2023; 111:669-681.e5. [PMID: 36584681 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.003] [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: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Visceral pain is among the most prevalent and bothersome forms of chronic pain, but their transmission in the spinal cord is still poorly understood. Here, we conducted focal colorectal distention (fCRD) to drive both visceromotor responses (VMRs) and aversion. We first found that spinal CCK neurons were necessary for noxious fCRD to drive both VMRs and aversion under naive conditions. We next showed that spinal VGLUT3 neurons mediate visceral allodynia, whose ablation caused loss of aversion evoked by low-intensity fCRD in mice with gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation or spinal circuit disinhibition. Importantly, these neurons were dispensable for driving sensitized VMRs under both inflammatory and central disinhibition conditions. Anatomically, a subset of VGLUT3 neurons projected to parabrachial nuclei, whose photoactivation sufficiently generated aversion in mice with GI inflammation, without influencing VMRs. Our studies suggest the presence of different spinal substrates that transmit nociceptive versus affective dimensions of visceral sensory information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Qi
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shing-Hong Lin
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qiufu Ma
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Bassi JK, Connelly AA, Butler AG, Liu Y, Ghanbari A, Farmer DGS, Jenkins MW, Melo MR, McDougall SJ, Allen AM. Analysis of the distribution of vagal afferent projections from different peripheral organs to the nucleus of the solitary tract in rats. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:3072-3103. [PMID: 35988033 PMCID: PMC9804483 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25398] [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: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Anatomical tracing studies examining the vagal system can conflate details of sensory afferent and motor efferent neurons. Here, we used a serotype of adeno-associated virus that transports retrogradely and exhibits selective tropism for vagal afferents, to map their soma location and central termination sites within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). We examined the vagal sensory afferents innervating the trachea, duodenum, stomach, or heart, and in some animals, from two organs concurrently. We observed no obvious somatotopy in the somata distribution within the nodose ganglion. The central termination patterns of afferents from different organs within the NTS overlap substantially. Convergence of vagal afferent inputs from different organs onto single NTS neurons is observed. Abdominal and thoracic afferents terminate throughout the NTS, including in the rostral NTS, where the 7th cranial nerve inputs are known to synapse. To address whether the axonal labeling produced by viral transduction is so widespread because it fills axons traveling to their targets, and not just terminal fields, we labeled pre and postsynaptic elements of vagal afferents in the NTS . Vagal afferents form multiple putative synapses as they course through the NTS, with each vagal afferent neuron distributing sensory signals to multiple second-order NTS neurons. We observe little selectivity between vagal afferents from different visceral targets and NTS neurons with common neurochemical phenotypes, with afferents from different organs making close appositions with the same NTS neuron. We conclude that specific viscerosensory information is distributed widely within the NTS and that the coding of this input is probably determined by the intrinsic properties and projections of the second-order neuron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet K. Bassi
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Angela A. Connelly
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Andrew G. Butler
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Yehe Liu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Anahita Ghanbari
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Department of Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - David G. S. Farmer
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Michael W. Jenkins
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Mariana R. Melo
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Stuart J. McDougall
- Department of Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Andrew M. Allen
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Department of Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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11
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An NTS-CeA projection modulates depression-like behaviors in a mouse model of chronic pain. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 174:105893. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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12
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Oh JY, Lee YS, Hwang TY, Cho SJ, Jang JH, Ryu Y, Park HJ. Acupuncture Regulates Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease via Brain Neural Activity and Functional Connectivity in Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:885396. [PMID: 35774113 PMCID: PMC9237259 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.885396] [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: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multilayered progressive brain disease characterized by motor dysfunction and a variety of other symptoms. Although acupuncture has been used to ameliorate various symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders, including PD, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanism of acupuncture by revealing the effects of acupuncture treatment on brain neural responses and its functional connectivity in an animal model of PD. We observed that destruction of neuronal network between many brain regions in PD mice were reversed by acupuncture. Using machine learning analysis, we found that the key region associated with the improvement of abnormal behaviors might be related to the neural activity of M1, suggesting that the changes of c-Fos in M1 could predict the improvement of motor function induced by acupuncture treatment. In addition, acupuncture treatment was shown to significantly normalize the brain neural activity not only in M1 but also in other brain regions related to motor behavior (striatum, substantia nigra pars compacta, and globus pallidus) and non-motor symptoms (hippocampus, lateral hypothalamus, and solitary tract) of PD. Taken together, our results demonstrate that acupuncture treatment might improve the PD symptoms by normalizing the brain functional connectivity in PD mice model and provide new insights that enhance our current understanding of acupuncture mechanisms for non-motor symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Young Oh
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Studies of Translational Acupuncture Research (STAR), Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ye-Seul Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae-Yeon Hwang
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Studies of Translational Acupuncture Research (STAR), Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seong-Jin Cho
- Korean Medicine Fundamental Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jae-Hwan Jang
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Studies of Translational Acupuncture Research (STAR), Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yeonhee Ryu
- Korean Medicine Fundamental Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hi-Joon Park
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Studies of Translational Acupuncture Research (STAR), Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Hi-Joon Park
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13
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Ren D, Li JN, Qiu XT, Wan FP, Wu ZY, Fan BY, Zhang MM, Chen T, Li H, Bai Y, Li YQ. Anterior Cingulate Cortex Mediates Hyperalgesia and Anxiety Induced by Chronic Pancreatitis in Rats. Neurosci Bull 2021; 38:342-358. [PMID: 34907496 PMCID: PMC9068840 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00800-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Central sensitization is essential in maintaining chronic pain induced by chronic pancreatitis (CP), but cortical modulation of painful CP remains elusive. Here, we examined the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the pathogenesis of abdominal hyperalgesia in a rat model of CP induced by intraductal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). TNBS treatment resulted in long-term abdominal hyperalgesia and anxiety in rats. Morphological data indicated that painful CP induced a significant increase in FOS-expressing neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and ACC, and some FOS-expressing neurons in the NTS projected to the ACC. In addition, a larger portion of ascending fibers from the NTS innervated pyramidal neurons, the neural subpopulation primarily expressing FOS under the condition of painful CP, rather than GABAergic neurons within the ACC. CP rats showed increased expression of vesicular glutamate transporter 1, and increased membrane trafficking and phosphorylation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunit NR2B and the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit GluR1 within the ACC. Microinjection of NMDAR and AMPAR antagonists into the ACC to block excitatory synaptic transmission significantly attenuated abdominal hyperalgesia in CP rats, which was similar to the analgesic effect of endomorphins injected into the ACC. Specifically inhibiting the excitability of ACC pyramidal cells via chemogenetics reduced both hyperalgesia and comorbid anxiety, whereas activating these neurons via optogenetics failed to aggravate hyperalgesia and anxiety in CP rats. Taken together, these findings provide neurocircuit, biochemical, and behavioral evidence for involvement of the ACC in hyperalgesia and anxiety in CP rats, as well as novel insights into the cortical modulation of painful CP, and highlights the ACC as a potential target for neuromodulatory interventions in the treatment of painful CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ren
- Department of Anatomy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 510000, China.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jia-Ni Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xin-Tong Qiu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Fa-Ping Wan
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Department of Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Bo-Yuan Fan
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Ming-Ming Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. .,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Yun-Qing Li
- Department of Anatomy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 510000, China. .,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. .,Key Laboratory of Brain Science Research and Transformation in Tropical Environment of Hainan Province, Haikou, 570216, China. .,Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, 671000, China.
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14
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Patterns of brain c-Fos expression in response to feeding behavior in acute and chronic inflammatory pain condition. Neuroreport 2021; 32:1269-1277. [PMID: 34494992 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Feeding behavior is known to have potential to alleviate pain. We recently demonstrated that both 24 h fasting and 2 h refeeding (food intake after 24 h fasting) induce analgesia in inflammatory pain conditions via different brain mechanisms. However, brain structures that distinctly involved fasting- and refeeding-induced analgesia is still unknown. Hence, this study is aimed to reveal brain structures mediating fasting- and refeeding-induced analgesia. METHODS Mice were given intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of formalin and complete Freund's adjuvant into the left hind paw to induce acute and chronic inflammatory pain, respectively. We examined changes in c-Fos expression with 24 h fasting and 2 h refeeding under acute and chronic inflammatory pain conditions in the contralateral brain. RESULTS Under acute pain condition, c-Fos expression changed with fasting in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), central amygdala (CeA), lateral hypothalamus (LH) and nucleus accumbens core (NAcC). Refeeding changed c-Fos expression in the CeA, LH and lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN). On the other hand, under chronic inflammatory pain condition, c-Fos expression changed with fasting in the lPBN, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS) while refeeding changed c-Fos expression in the anterior insular cortex, lPBN, mPFC and NAcS. CONCLUSION The present results show that brain regions that participated in the fasting- and refeeding-induced analgesia were completely different in acute and chronic inflammatory pain conditions. Also, refeeding recruits more brain regions under chronic inflammatory pain conditions compared to the acute inflammatory pain condition. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into brain regions involved in fasting- and refeeding-induced analgesia, which can be potential neural circuit-based targets for the development of novel therapeutics.
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15
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Supraspinal Mechanisms of Intestinal Hypersensitivity. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 42:389-417. [PMID: 33030712 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00967-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gut inflammation or injury causes intestinal hypersensitivity (IHS) and hyperalgesia, which can persist after the initiating pathology resolves, are often referred to somatic regions and exacerbated by psychological stress, anxiety or depression, suggesting the involvement of both the spinal cord and the brain. The supraspinal mechanisms of IHS remain to be fully elucidated, however, over the last decades the series of intestinal pathology-associated neuroplastic changes in the brain has been revealed, being potentially responsible for the phenomenon. This paper reviews current clinical and experimental data, including the authors' own findings, on these functional, structural, and neurochemical/molecular changes within cortical, subcortical and brainstem regions processing and modulating sensory signals from the gut. As concluded in the review, IHS can develop and maintain due to the bowel inflammation/injury-induced persistent hyperexcitability of viscerosensory brainstem and thalamic nuclei and sensitization of hypothalamic, amygdala, hippocampal, anterior insular, and anterior cingulate cortical areas implicated in the neuroendocrine, emotional and cognitive modulation of visceral sensation and pain. An additional contribution may come from the pathology-triggered dysfunction of the brainstem structures inhibiting nociception. The mechanism underlying IHS-associated regional hyperexcitability is enhanced NMDA-, AMPA- and group I metabotropic receptor-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission in association with altered neuropeptide Y, corticotropin-releasing factor, and cannabinoid 1 receptor signaling. These alterations are at least partially mediated by brain microglia and local production of cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor α. Studying the IHS-related brain neuroplasticity in greater depth may enable the development of new therapeutic approaches against chronic abdominal pain in inflammatory bowel disease.
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Kourosh-Arami M, Joghataei MT, Komaki A, Gholami M, Najafi Z, Lavaie M. Persistent effects of the orexin-1 receptor antagonist SB-334867 on naloxone precipitated morphine withdrawal symptoms and nociceptive behaviors in morphine dependent rats. Int J Neurosci 2020; 132:67-76. [PMID: 32746675 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2020.1802266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY In this study, we investigated the effect of long-term administration of orexin receptor 1 (OXR1) antagonist on naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal symptoms and nociceptive behaviors in morphine-dependent rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Wistar rats received subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of morphine (6, 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, and 66 mg/kg, 2 ml/kg) at an interval of 24 h for 7 days. In chronic groups, the OXR1 antagonist, SB-334867 (20 mg/kg, i.p.), or its vehicle, was injected repetitively from postnatal day 1 (PND1)-PND23 and then for the following seven days before each morphine injection. Meanwhile, in acute groups, SB-334867, or its vehicle, was administered before each morphine injection. In groups of rats that were designated for withdrawal experiments, naloxone (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered after the last injection of morphine. In the formalin-induced pain, the effect of OXR1 inhibition on the antinociceptive effects of morphine was measured by injecting formalin after the final morphine injection. RESULTS Animals that received long-term SB-334867 administration before morphine injection demonstrated a significant reduction in chewing, defecation, diarrhea, grooming, teeth chattering, wet-dog shake, and writhing. Inhibiting OXR1 for a long time increased formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors in interphase and phase II of the formalin-induced pain. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated that the inhibition of OXR1 significantly reduces the development of morphine dependence and behavioral signs elicited by the administration of naloxone in morphine-dependent rats. Furthermore, the prolonged blockade of OXR1 might be involved in formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Kourosh-Arami
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Neuroscience Research center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Taghi Joghataei
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Neurophysiology Research center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Gholami
- Neuroscience Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Zohreh Najafi
- Neuroscience Research center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Lavaie
- Neuroscience Research center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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