scholarly journals Spinal neuronal excitability and neuroinflammation in a model of chemotherapeutic neuropathic pain: targeting the resolution pathways

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pongsatorn Meesawatsom ◽  
Gareth Hathway ◽  
Andrew Bennett ◽  
Dumitru Constantin-Teodosiu ◽  
Victoria Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Microarray Analysis ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Resolvin D1 ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Critical Feature ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Abstract Background Neuroinflammation is a critical feature of sensitisation of spinal nociceptive processing in chronic pain states. We hypothesised that the resolvin pathways, a unique endogenous control system, may ameliorate aberrant spinal processing of somatosensory inputs associated with chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP). Method The paclitaxel (PCX) model of CINP was established in male Sprague-Dawley rats and compared to control rats (n = 23 and 22, respectively). Behavioural pain responses were measured, and either single unit electrophysiological recordings of dorsal horn wide dynamic range (WDR) neurones were performed, or mRNA microarray analysis of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord was undertaken. Results PCX rats exhibited significant changes in behavioural responses to mechanical and cold stimuli. A higher proportion of WDR neurones in PCX rats were polymodal (generating post-discharge following a non-noxious mechanical stimulus, responding to non-noxious cold and exhibiting spontaneous activity) compared to control (p < 0.05). Microarray analysis revealed changes in proinflammatory pathways (Tlr, Tnfrsf1a, Nlrp1a, Cxcr1, Cxcr5, Ccr1, Cx3cr1) and anti-inflammatory lipid resolvin pathways (Alox5ap, Cyp2j4 and Ptgr1) compared to control (p < 0.05). Ingenuity pathway analysis predicted changes in glutamatergic and astrocyte signaling in the PCX group. Activation of the resolvin system via the spinal administration of aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) markedly inhibited (73 ± 7% inhibition) normally non-noxious mechanically (8 g) evoked responses of WDR neurones only in PCX rats, whilst leaving responses to noxious mechanically induced stimuli intact. Inhibitory effects of AT-RvD1were comparable in magnitude to spinal morphine (84 ± 4% inhibition). Conclusion The PCX model of CINP was associated with mechanical allodynia, altered neuronal responses and dysregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory signalling in the spinal dorsal horn. The resolvin AT-RvD1 selectively inhibited low weight mechanical-evoked responses of WDR neurones in PCX rats, but not in controls. Our data support the targeting of spinal neuroinflammation via the activation of the resolvin system as a new therapeutic approach for CINP.

α2-Adrenoceptors Modulate NMDA-Evoked Responses of Neurons in Superficial and Deeper Dorsal Horn of the Medulla

1998 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 2210-2214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai-Ming Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Min Wang ◽  
Angela M. Peterson ◽  
Wen-Yan Chen ◽  
Sukhbir S. Mokha
Keyword(s):  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Superficial Dorsal Horn ◽  
Nociceptive Neurons ◽  
Adrenoceptor Antagonist ◽  
Medullary Dorsal Horn ◽  
Wdr Neurons

Kai-Ming Zhang, Xiao-Min Wang, Angela M. Peterson, Wen-Yan Chen, and Sukhbir S. Mokha. α2-Adrenoceptors modulate NMDA-evoked responses of neurons in the superficial and deeper dorsal horn of the medulla. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 2210–2214, 1998. Extracellular single unit recordings were made from neurons in the superficial and deeper dorsal horn of the medulla (trigeminal nucleus caudalis) in 21 male rats anesthetized with urethan. NMDA produced an antagonist-reversible excitation of 46 nociceptive as well as nonnociceptive neurons. Microiontophoretic application of a preferential α2-adrenoceptor (α2AR) agonist, (2-[2,6-dichloroaniline]-2-imidazoline) hydrochloride (clonidine), reduced the NMDA-evoked responses of 86% (6/7) of nociceptive-specific (NS) neurons, 82% (9/11) of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons, and 67% (4/6) of low-threshold (LT) neurons in the superficial dorsal horn. In the deeper dorsal horn, clonidine inhibited the NMDA-evoked responses of 94% (16/17) of NS and WDR neurons and 60% (3/5) of LT neurons. Clonidine facilitated the NMDA-evoked responses in 14% (1/17) of NS, 9% (1/11) of WDR, and 33% (2/6) of LT neurons in the superficial dorsal horn. Idazoxan, an α2AR antagonist, reversed the inhibitory effect of clonidine in 90% (9/10) of neurons, whereas prazosin, an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist with affinity for α2BAR, and α2CAR, were ineffective. We suggest that activation of α2ARs produces a predominantly inhibitory modulation of the NMDA-evoked responses of nociceptive neurons in the medullary dorsal horn.

Effects of Halothane and Isoflurane on Hyperexcitability of Spinal Dorsal Horn Neurons after Incision in the Rat

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikito Kawamata ◽  
Eichi Narimatsu ◽  
Yuji Kozuka ◽  
Toshiyuki Takahashi ◽  
Shigekazu Sugino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Spinal Dorsal Horn ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Dorsal Horn Neurons ◽  
Spinal Dorsal

Background The aim of this study was to determine whether halothane and isoflurane used during and after surgical injury attenuate subsequent hyperexcitability of spinal dorsal horn (SDH) neurons by preventing development of central sensitization. Methods Activity of a wide-dynamic-range neuron of the SDH was isolated in decerebrate-spinal Sprague-Dawley rats, and neuronal activity (receptive field size and responses to nonnoxious and noxious stimuli) was recorded. A 1-cm-long incision was made through the skin, fascia, and muscle under anesthesia with halothane (1.1% or 2.2%) and isoflurane (1.4% or 2.8%). Anesthesia was discontinued just after the incision had been made or was continued until 30 min after the incision, and activity of the SDH neurons was measured for up to 2 h after the incision. In a control group, the incision was made without anesthesia. Results In the control group, the incision resulted in maximum excitation in the SDH neurons during surgery; spontaneous activity significantly increased for up to 30 min after the incision (P &lt; 0.05) but did not significantly increase thereafter, returning to the preincision value. Halothane and isoflurane suppressed excitation of the neurons during the incision in a concentration-related manner. Administration of 2.2% halothane and 2.8% isoflurane during the incision and for up to 30 min after the incision almost abolished activity of the neurons for 30 min after the incision. The magnitude of neuronal activity 2 h after the incision was not significantly different among all groups, including the control group. Conclusions The results demonstrate that administration of halothane and isoflurane does not attenuate development of hyperexcitability of SDH neurons despite the fact that excitation and spontaneous activity during and after the incision were greatly suppressed by administration of halothane and isoflurane.

scholarly journals Investigating circadian rhythmicity in pain sensitivity using a neural circuit model for spinal cord processing of pain

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Crodelle ◽  
Sofia H. Piltz ◽  
Victoria Booth ◽  
Megan Hastings Hagenauer
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Circadian Rhythmicity ◽  
Noxious Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Pain Signal

AbstractPrimary processing of painful stimulation occurs in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. In this article, we introduce mathematical models of the neural circuitry in the dorsal horn responsible for processing nerve fiber inputs from noxious stimulation of peripheral tissues and generating the resultant pain signal. The differential equation models describe the average firing rates of excitatory and inhibitory interneuron populations, as well as the wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons whose output correlates with the pain signal. The temporal profile of inputs on the different afferent nerve fibers that signal noxious and innocuous stimulation and the excitability properties of the included neuronal populations are constrained by experimental results. We consider models for the spinal cord circuit in isolation and when top-down inputs from higher brain areas that modulate pain processing are included. We validate the models by replicating experimentally observed phenomena of A fiber inhibition of pain and wind-up. We then use the models to investigate mechanisms for the observed phase shift in circadian rhythmicity of pain that occurs with neuropathic pain conditions. Our results suggest that changes in neuropathic pain rhythmicity can occur through dysregulation of inhibition within the dorsal horn circuit.

scholarly journals The Antiallodynic Action of Pregabalin May Depend on the Suppression of Spinal Neuronal Hyperexcitability in Rats with Spared Nerve Injury

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Ding ◽  
Jie Cai ◽  
Xiang-Yang Guo ◽  
Xiu-Li Meng ◽  
Guo-Gang Xing
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Electrophysiological Recording ◽  
Spared Nerve Injury ◽  
Withdrawal Threshold ◽  
Wdr Neurons

BACKGROUND: Pregabalin (PGB) is a novel antiepileptic drug and is also used as a first-line medication for the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, the mechanisms of its analgesic effects remain largely unknown.OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the antiallodynic action of PGB in rats with neuropathic pain.METHODS: In a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by spared nerve injury, mechanical allodynia, as a behavioural sign of neuropathic pain, was assessed by measuring 50% paw withdrawal threshold with von Frey filaments. Activities of dorsal horn wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons were examined by extracellular electrophysiological recording in vivo.RESULTS: Spinal administration of PGB exerted a significant antiallodynic effect and a prominent inhibitory effect on the hypersensitivity of dorsal horn WDR neurons in rats with spared nerve injury.CONCLUSION: The antiallodynic action of PGB is likely dependent on the suppression of WDR neuron hyperexcitability in rats with neuropathic pain.

Intracisternal injection of palmitoylethanolamide inhibits the peripheral nociceptive evoked responses of dorsal horn wide dynamic range neurons

2014 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abimael González-Hernández ◽  
Guadalupe Martínez-Lorenzana ◽  
Javier Rodríguez-Jiménez ◽  
Gerardo Rojas-Piloni ◽  
Miguel Condés-Lara
Keyword(s):  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Wide Dynamic Range ◽  
Intracisternal Injection ◽  
Wide Dynamic Range Neurons

Modulation of Nerve Injury–induced HDAC4 Cytoplasmic Retention Contributes to Neuropathic Pain in Rats

2015 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzer-Bin Lin ◽  
Ming-Chun Hsieh ◽  
Cheng-Yuan Lai ◽  
Jen-Kun Cheng ◽  
Yat-Pang Chau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Histone Deacetylases ◽  
Spinal Nerve ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Withdrawal Threshold ◽  
Dorsal Horn Neurons ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Interfering Rna

Abstract Background: The histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been implicated in pain hypersensitivity. This study investigated the potential involvement of an HDAC4-related mechanism in the spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced nociceptive hypersensitivity. Methods: The left L5 to L6 spinal nerves of 627 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were surgically ligated. The withdrawal threshold of hind paws and the abundances, cellular location, and interactions of proteins in the dorsal horn were assayed before and after surgery. The 14-3-3β-targeting small-interfering RNA, a serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) antagonist, or an HDAC inhibitor was spinally injected to elucidate the role of 14-3-3β, SGK1, and HDAC4. Results: Without affecting the HDAC4 level, SNL provoked SGK1 phosphorylation (mean ± SEM from 0.24 ± 0.02 to 0.78 ± 0.06 at day 7, n = 6), HDAC4 phosphorylation (from 0.38 ± 0.03 to 0.72 ± 0.06 at day 7, n = 6), 14-3-3β expression (from 0.53 ± 0.09 to 0.88 ± 0.09 at day 7, n = 6), cytoplasmic HDAC4 retention (from 1.18 ± 0.16 to 1.92 ± 0.11 at day 7, n = 6), and HDAC4-14-3-3β coupling (approximately 2.4-fold) in the ipsilateral dorsal horn in association with behavioral allodynia. Knockdown of spinal 14-3-3β expression prevented the SNL-provoked HDAC4 retention (from 1.89 ± 0.15 to 1.32 ± 0.08 at day 7, n = 6), HDAC4-14-3-3β coupling (approximately 0.6-fold above SNL 7D), and behavioral allodynia (from 0.16 ± 0.3 to 6 ± 1.78 at day 7, n = 7), but not SGK1 (from 0.78 ± 0.06 to 0.71 ± 0.04 at day 7, n = 6) or HDAC4 (from 0.75 ± 0.15 to 0.68 ± 0.11 at day 7, n = 6) phosphorylation. Conclusion: Neuropathic pain maintenance involves the spinal SGK1 activation–dependent HDAC4 phosphorylation and its subsequent association with 14-3-3β that promotes cytoplasmic HDAC4 retention in dorsal horn neurons.

Selective Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Activation Inhibits Spinal Nociceptive Transmission In Vivo

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 3061-3064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Kelly ◽  
Victoria Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Somatosensory Processing ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Nociceptive Transmission ◽  
Dorsal Horn Neurons ◽  
Anesthetized Rats ◽  
C Fiber

Cannabinoid1 (CB1) receptors are located at CNS sites, including the spinal cord, involved in somatosensory processing. Analgesia is one of the tetrad of behaviors associated with cannabinoid agonists. Here, effects of a potent cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist arachidonyl-2-chloroethylamide (ACEA) on evoked responses of dorsal horn neurons in anesthetized rats were investigated. Extracellular recordings of convergent dorsal horn neurons were made in halothane anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 16). Effects of spinal application of ACEA on electrically evoked responses of dorsal horn neurons were studied. Mean maximal effects of 0.5, 5, 50, and 500 ng/50 μl ACEA on the C-fiber-mediated postdischarge response were 79 ± 6, 62 ± 10, and 54 ± 7% ( P < 0.01), 45 ± 6% ( P < 0.01), of control, respectively. ACEA (500 ng/50 μl) also reduced the C-fiber-evoked nonpotentiated responses of neurons (59 ± 9% of control, P < 0.05) and Aδ-fiber-evoked responses of neurons (68 ± 10% of control, P < 0.01). Minor effects of ACEA on Aβ-fiber-evoked responses were observed. Spinal pre-administration of the selective CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A (0.01 μg/50 μl) significantly reduced effects of ACEA (500 ng/50 μl) on postdischarge responses of dorsal horn neurons. This study demonstrates that spinal CB1 receptors modulate the transmission of C- and Aδ-fiber-evoked responses in anesthetized rats; this may reflect pre- and/or postsynaptic effects of cannabinoids on nociceptive transmission. CB1 receptors inhibit synaptic release of glutamate in rat dorsolateral striatum, a similar mechanism of action may underlie the effects of ACEA on noxious evoked responses of spinal neurons reported here.

Systemic administration of WY-14643, a selective synthetic agonist of peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-alpha, alters spinal neuronal firing in a rodent model of neuropathic pain

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bright N. Okine ◽  
Clare Spicer ◽  
Paul Millns ◽  
Andrew Bennett ◽  
Victoria Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Spinal Nerve ◽  
Systemic Administration ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Sites Of Action ◽  
Pparα Agonist

AbstractBackground and aimsThe clinical management of chronic neuropathic pain remains a global health challenge. Current treatments are either ineffective, or associated with unwanted side-effects. The development of effective, safe therapies requires the identification of novel therapeutic targets using clinically relevant animal models of neuropathic pain.Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα), is a member of the nuclear hormone family of transcription factors, which is widely distributed in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Pharmacological studies report antinociceptive effects of PPARα agonists following systemic administration in rodent models of neuropathic pain, however the neuronal mechanisms and sites of action mediating these effects are unclear.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of systemic administration of the synthetic PPARα agonist, WY-14643 on mechanically-evoked responses of spinal cord dorsal horn wide dynamic range (WDR) neurones in the spinal nerve ligated (SNL) model of neuropathic pain in rats. In addition, comparative molecular analysis of mRNA coding for PPARα and PPARα protein expression in the spinal cord of sham-operated and neuropathic rats was performed.MethodsLumbar L5–L6 spinal nerve ligation was performed in male Sprague–Dawley rats (110–130 g) under isoflurane anaesthesia. Sham controls underwent similar surgical conditions, but without ligation of the L5–L6 spinal nerves. Hindpaw withdrawal thresholds were measured on the day of surgery -day 0, and on days- 2, 4, 7, 10 and 14 post-surgery. At day 14 extracellular single-unit recordings of spinal (WDR) dorsal horn neurons were performed in both sham and SNL neuropathic rats under anaesthesia. The effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of WY-14643 (15 and 30 mg/kg) or vehicle on evoked responses of WDR neurons to punctate mechanical stimulation of the peripheral receptive field of varying bending force (8–60 g) were recorded. In a separate cohort of SNL and sham neuropathic rats, the expression of mRNA coding for PPARα and protein expression in the ipsilateral and contralateral spinal cord was determined using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting techniques respectively.ResultsWY-14643 (15 and 30mg/kg i.p.) rapidly attenuated mechanically evoked (8, 10 and 15g) responses of spinal WDR neurones in SNL, but not sham-operated rats. Molecular analysis revealed significantly increased PPARα protein, but not mRNA, expression in the ipsilateral spinal cord of SNL, compared to the contralateral side in SNL rats. There were no changes in PPARα mRNA or protein expression in the sham controls.ConclusionThe observation that levels of PPARα protein were increased in ipsilateral spinal cord of neuropathic rats supports a contribution of spinal sites of action mediating the effects of systemic WY-14643. Our data suggests that the inhibitory effects of a PPARα agonist on spinal neuronal responses may account, at least in part, for their analgesic effects of in neuropathic pain.ImplicationSelective activation of PPARα in the spinal cord may be therapeutically relevant for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

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