Electrical Synapses are Involved in Orofacial Neuropathic Pain.
Neuroscience
; 382: 69-79, 2018 07 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29746991
ABSTRACT
Accumulated evidences suggest important roles of glial GAP-junctions in pain. However, only a few studies have explored the role of neuronal GAP-junctions or electrical synapses in neuropathic pain (NP). Therefore, the present study explores the role of connexin 36 (Cx36) in NP using the chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-IoN) model in rat. A significant increase in Cx36 labeling was observed in the medullary dorsal horn (MDH) of CCI-IoN-lesioned compared to sham rats. The expression of Cx36 in CCI-IoN-lesioned rats revealed a rostroventral gradient of punctuate labeling within lamina IIo of the MDH. Cx36-positive somata and processes were also observed in MDH laminae IIi and III-V. These somata were mostly of the Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and occasionally Glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2) cell subtypes. Moreover the GABA cell subtypes are highly coupled in lamina IIo as revealed by the intense Cx36 staining in this lamina. Pharmacological Cx36 blockade by intracisternal administration of mefloquine decreased significantly the mechanical allodynia observed in CCI-IoN-lesioned rats. Altogether, our findings demonstrated that Cx36 play an important role in mechanical allodynia by coupling GABA cells. Increasing cell coupling by enhancing Cx36 expression favors neuropathic pain while disrupting this coupling alleviates it. This mechanism may constitute a novel target for the treatment of orofacial mechanical allodynia.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Dolor Facial
/
Conexinas
/
Sinapsis Eléctricas
/
Neuralgia
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neuroscience
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia