Dual contribution of ASIC1a channels in the spinal processing of pain information by deep projection neurons revealed by computational modeling.

Dorsal horn of the spinal cord is an important crossroad of pain neuraxis, especially for the neuronal plasticity mechanisms that can lead to chronic pain states. Windup is a well-known spinal pain facilitation process initially described several decades ago, but its exact mechanism is still not fully understood. Here, we combine both ex vivo and in vivo electrophysiological recordings of rat spinal neurons with computational modeling to demonstrate a role for ASIC1a-containing channels in the windup process. Spinal application of the ASIC1a inhibitory venom peptides mambalgin-1 and psalmotoxin-1 (PcTx1) significantly reduces the ability of deep wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons to develop windup in vivo. All deep WDR-like neurons recorded from spinal slices exhibit an ASIC current with biophysical and pharmacological characteristics consistent with functional expression of ASIC1a homomeric channels. A computational model of WDR neuron supplemented with different ASIC1a channel parameters accurately reproduces the experimental data, further supporting a positive contribution of these channels to windup. It also predicts a calcium-dependent windup decrease for elevated ASIC conductances, a phenomenon that was experimentally validated using the Texas coral snake ASIC-activating toxin (MitTx) and calcium-activated potassium channel inhibitory peptides (apamin and iberiotoxin). This study supports a dual contribution to windup of calcium permeable ASIC1a channels in deep laminae projecting neurons, promoting it upon moderate channel activity, but ultimately leading to calcium-dependent windup inhibition associated to potassium channels when activity increases.

Neuroanatomical distribution and function of the vasopressin V1B receptor in the rat brain deciphered using specific fluorescent ligands.

It is now accepted that vasopressin, through V1A/V1B receptors, centrally regulates cognitive functions such as memory, affiliation, stress, fear and depression. However, the respective roles of these receptor isoforms and their contribution to stress-related pathologies remain uncertain. The development of new therapeutic treatments requires a precise knowledge of the distribution of these receptors within the brain, which has been so far hampered by the lack of selective V1B markers. In the present study, we have determined the pharmacological properties of three new potent rat V1B fluorescent ligands and demonstrated that they constitute valuable tools for simultaneous visualization and activation of native V1B receptors in living rat brain tissue. Thus, d[Leu4,Lys-Alexa 647)8]VP (analogue 3), the compound with the best affinity-selectivity/fluorescence ratio for the V1B receptor emerged as the most promising. The rat brain regions most concerned by stress such as hippocampus, olfactory bulbs, cortex and amygdala display the highest V1B fluorescent labelling with analogue 3. In the hippocampus CA2, V1B receptors are located on glutamatergic, not GABAergic neurones, and are absent from astrocytes. Using AVP-EGFP rats, we demonstrate the presence of V1B autoreceptors on AVP-secreting neurones not only in the hypothalamus, but also sparsely in the hippocampus. Finally, using both electrophysiology and visualization of ERK phosphorylation, we show analogue 3-induced activation of the V1B receptor in situ. This will help to analyse expression and functionality of V1B receptors in the brain and contribute to further explore the AVPergic circuitry in normal and pathological conditions.