Journal
NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 224, Issue -, Pages 294-306Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.08.015
Keywords
trigeminal neuropathic pain; operant; TRPM8; cortical processing; allodynia; TRPV1
Categories
Funding
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research [5R21DE016704-02]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In order to better understand and treat neuropathic pain, scientific study must use methods that can assess pain processing at the cortical level where pain is truly perceived. Operant behavior paradigms can accomplish this. We used an operant task to evaluate changes following chronic constriction injury to the trigeminal nerves. We also relate these behavioral changes to immunohistochemistry of transient receptor potential channels vanilloid 1 and melastatin 8 (TRPV1 and TRPM8) in the trigeminal ganglia. Following nerve injury, successful performance of the operant task was reduced and aversive behaviors were observed with 10 and 37 degrees C stimulation, indicating cold allodynia and mechanical allodynia respectively. In contrast, while aversive behaviors were observed with 48 C stimulation, successful performance of the operant task was not substantially hindered following injury. These behavioral changes were accompanied by an increase in TRPV1 positive cells and an increased intensity of TRPM8 staining at 2 weeks post-injury, when cold allodynia is maximal. These findings suggest that the incorporation of operant behavioral assessment in the study of pain may provide insight into the relationship among peripheral changes, motivational drive, and pain. Understanding this relationship will allow us to better treat and prevent chronic neuropathic pain. (C) 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available