Article
Anesthesiology
Yuka Nakaya, Kiyofumi Yamamoto, Masayuki Kobayashi
Summary: Nociceptive information from the orofacial area is processed in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Sp5C) and transmitted to the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) among other areas. The insular cortex (IC) receives this information and sends projections that play a critical role in Sp5C activities. Glutamatergic inputs from the IC regulate excitatory currents in Sp5C, while inhibitory currents in Sp5C are influenced by GABAergic/glycinergic interneurons.
Article
Clinical Neurology
K. C. Elina, Jaisan Islam, Hyong Kyu Kim, Young Seok Park
Summary: The study demonstrates the crucial role of hyperactive astrocytes in neuropathic pain, particularly in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) related pain processing. By using optogenetic inhibition, the researchers were able to regulate pain hypersensitivity and thalamic neuronal responses. The findings suggest that modifying the activity of medullary astrocytes may provide new therapeutic measures for TN management.
JOURNAL OF HEADACHE AND PAIN
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xin Sun, Liang Cao, Jian-Lin Ge, Jian-Yun Ge, Xue-Feng Yang, Bo-Xiang Du, Jie Song
Summary: In this study, it was found that in a rat model of trigeminal neuropathic pain, the level of NLRP3-related inflammasomes was upregulated in microglia after nerve damage. The inhibition of early expression of NLRP3 significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines expression and alleviated mechanical allodynia. This suggests that targeting NLRP3 may be a potential therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Cristina Rodriguez, Anderson Chen, Jose A. Rivera, Manuel A. Mohr, Yajie Liang, Ryan G. Natan, Wenzhi Sun, Daniel E. Milkie, Thomas G. Bifano, Xiaoke Chen, Na Ji
Summary: The development of a compact adaptive optics module has enabled correction of tissue-induced aberrations in two-photon and three-photon fluorescence microscopes, allowing high-resolution imaging of synaptic structures in deep regions of the mouse brain and spinal cord, as well as somatosensory-evoked calcium responses. This advancement has facilitated structural and functional imaging deep within living organisms such as mice and zebrafish larvae.
Article
Neurosciences
Timothy S. Balmer, Laurence O. Trussell
Summary: The dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) plays a crucial role in multisensory integration in the auditory pathway of mammals, integrating non-auditory information with auditory signals for sound localization and self-generated sound suppression. While trigeminal axonal projections have been found in guinea pigs and rats, their presence in mice, a key species in auditory neuroscience, is lacking, raising questions about the universality of such functions. The study found that secondary brainstem sources carry non-auditory signals to the DCN in mice, highlighting the complexity of trigeminal integration in this species.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yuka Nakaya, Koichi Iwata, Masayuki Kobayashi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the insular cortex (IC) on neuronal spike firings in response to noxious and innoxious stimuli to the face. It was found that the descending projections from the IC can increase the response of Sp5C neurons to noxious mechanical stimuli. These results suggest that the IC plays a role in facilitating nociception by enhancing the activity of Sp5C neurons.
Article
Neurosciences
Xinglong Gu, Yizhen Z. Z. Zhang, John J. O'Malley, Caitlynn C. De Preter, Mario Penzo, Mark A. Hoon
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified catecholaminergic neurons in the caudal ventrolateral medulla that are activated by noxious stimuli in mice. These neurons produce bilateral feed-forward inhibition to attenuate nociceptive responses through a pathway involving the locus coeruleus and norepinephrine in the spinal cord. This pathway plays a role in attenuating injury-induced heat allodynia and counter-stimulus induced analgesia to noxious heat.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shi-Qi Wang, Jin Meng, Bastien Mennecart, Loic Costeur, Jie Ye, Chunxiao Li, Chi Zhang, Ji Zhang, Manuela Aiglstorfer, Yang Wang, Yan Wu, Wen-Yu Wu, Tao Deng
Summary: Hou et al. challenged the giraffoid affinity of Discokeryx and its ecology and behavior. In our response, we reiterated that Discokeryx, similar to Giraffa, exhibits extreme evolution of head-neck morphologies, which is likely shaped by selective pressure from sexual competition and marginal environments.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Rupert D. Smit, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, KiChang Kang, Maikerly Reyes, Anish Sathe, Sarah Collopy, Giyarpuram Prashant, Hsiangkuo Yuan, James J. Evans
Summary: This literature review examines the evidence for interventional therapies in medically intractable SUNCT/SUNA, including occipital nerve stimulation, pulsed radiofrequency, stereotactic radiosurgery, and microvascular decompression. The review finds promising outcomes with these treatments, but emphasizes the need for further research.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hee-Jin Im, Yoo-Ha Hong, Soo-Jin Cho
Summary: Neck pain is a common symptom among migraine patients, and its impact on headaches and contributing factors are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the disability caused by neck pain on headaches and factors linked to comorbid neck pain, including sleep-related variables. The study found that neck pain was present in 51.9% of migraine patients, with high disability observed in some patients. Factors such as medication days per month, severe disability of migraine, and excessive daytime sleepiness were significant predictors for the severe impact of headaches. The study also found a positive correlation between neck pain and higher monthly headache days, female gender, and likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea among migraine patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Arnab Barik, Anupama Sathyamurthy, James Thompson, Mathew Seltzer, Ariel Levine, Alexander Chesler
Summary: The pathway from spinal cord to brain for ongoing pain involves activation of spinal neurons expressing Tacr1, leading to pain-related behaviors. PBN-SLTacr1 neurons respond to sustained stimuli, enhancing nocifensive behaviors and suppressing itch, while their silencing causes mice to ignore long-lasting noxious stimuli. This spinoparabrachial pathway plays a key role in the sensation of ongoing pain.
Article
Anesthesiology
Elizabeth K. Serafin, Aditi Paranjpe, Chelsie L. Brewer, Mark L. Baccei
Summary: Neonatal tissue damage may have long-term effects on nociceptive processing in the central nervous system, with pDyn neurons in the spinal dorsal horn playing a crucial role. Research identified gene expression changes in adult pDyn neurons following neonatal tissue injury, with genes related to cellular stress response being highlighted, suggesting that posttranscriptional regulation may play a key role in the activation of nociceptive circuits by early-life injury.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Bonomini, Gaia Favero, Stefania Castrezzati, Elisa Borsani
Summary: Orofacial pain is a complex biomedical challenge without a satisfactory solution. This review evaluates the involvement of neurotrophins in orofacial nociception and their potential role as targets for pain modulation. Further studies are needed to clarify their application in clinical practice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rebecca Rani Das Gupta, Louis Scheurer, Pawel Pelczar, Hendrik Wildner, Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
Summary: The study revealed that excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the spinal dorsal horn are not only distinguished by gene expression, but also show differential engagement in neuromodulator pathways, especially neuropeptides.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fumihiro Saika, Yohji Fukazawa, Shiroh Kishioka, Norikazu Kiguchi
Summary: This study characterizes spinal microglial activation and its association with itch in a mouse model of psoriasis. The findings suggest that sensory neurons contribute to spinal microglial activation.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)