Article
Neurosciences
Luke Grundy, Ashlee Caldwell, Sonia Garcia-Caraballo, David Grundy, Nick J. Spencer, Xinzhong Dong, Joel Castro, Andrea M. Harrington, Stuart M. Brierley
Summary: This study demonstrates the functional expression of MrgprA3 and MrgprC11 in bladder afferents for the first time. Activation of these receptors triggers hypersensitivity to distension, which is a critically valuable factor for therapeutic target development.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Madina Makhmutova, Jonathan Weitz, Alejandro Tamayo, Elizabeth Pereira, Maria Boulina, Joana Almaca, Rayner Rodriguez-Diaz, Alejandro Caicedo
Summary: The study revealed the presence of vagal sensory nerve terminals in pancreatic islets, which communicate with beta-cells via serotonin signaling. Serotonin may convey information about the secretory state of beta-cells to vagal afferent nerves.
Review
Cell Biology
Emily N. Blanke, Gregory M. Holmes, Emily M. Besecker
Summary: The adaptability of the central nervous system can lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction following neurotrauma, contributing to higher morbidity and mortality. While motor responses from the vagus nerve remain intact, impaired vagal afferents may worsen gastrointestinal dysfunctions.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
T. Akgul Caglar, Z. B. Durdu, M. U. Turhan, M. Y. Gunal, M. S. Aydin, G. Ozturk, E. Cagavi
Summary: This study identified sensory neurons innervating the heart tissue using retrograde tracers, with Di-8-ANEPPQ showing the highest labeling efficiency. The bilateral distribution of cardiac afferents in NGs and DRGs was demonstrated through 2D and 3D imaging. The findings provide insights into the spatial distribution and abundance of cardiac sensory neurons.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qiancheng Zhao, Chuyue D. Yu, Rui Wang, Qian J. Xu, Rafael Dai Pra, Le Zhang, Rui B. Chang
Summary: This study reveals a multidimensional coding architecture of the mammalian vagal interoceptive system, in which VSNs code signals in different dimensions such as visceral organs, tissue layers, and stimulus modalities, enabling complex projections of VSNs in the brainstem.
Article
Biology
Melinda A. Kyloh, Timothy J. Hibberd, Joel Castro, Andrea M. Harrington, Lee Travis, Kelsi N. Dodds, Lukasz Wiklendt, Stuart M. Brierley, Vladimir P. Zagorodnyuk, Nick J. Spencer
Summary: This study developed a surgical method to selectively remove specific dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in mice, providing insights into the contribution of thoracolumbar and lumbosacral DRG to pain signaling and behavior. The technique allowed researchers to investigate sensory pathway functions in conscious, free-moving animals without genetic modification.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Stuart B. Mazzone, Seung-Kwon Yang, Jennifer A. Keller, Juste Simanauskaite, Jaisy Arikkatt, Matthew J. Fogarty, Aung Aung Kywe Moe, Chen Chen, Matthew W. Trewella, Luyi Tian, Matthew E. Ritchie, Brendan Y. Chua, Simon Phipps, Kirsty R. Short, Alice E. McGovern
Summary: The study suggests that HMGB1 can enhance the growth and excitability of vagal sensory neurons primarily through the regulation of the RAGE receptor. This mechanism may contribute to vagal hyperinnervation and hypersensitivity in chronic pulmonary diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Richard L. Kraus, Fuqiang Zhao, Parul S. Pall, Dan Zhou, Joshua D. Vardigan, Andrew Danziger, Yuxing Li, Christopher Daley, Jeanine E. Ballard, Michelle K. Clements, Rebecca M. Klein, Marie A. Holahan, Thomas J. Greshock, Ronald M. Kim, Mark E. Layton, Christopher S. Burgey, Jordi Serra, Darrell A. Henze, Andrea K. Houghton
Summary: Humans with mutations in the Na(v)1.7 channel gene can either be insensitive to pain or suffer from inherited pain syndromes. Clinical studies using Na(v)1.7 inhibitors have not shown significant pain relief, leading researchers to develop rhesus macaque models to measure target modulation and efficacy.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Utano Nakamura, Taichi Nohmi, Riho Sagane, Jun Hai, Kento Ohbayashi, Maiko Miyazaki, Atsushi Yamatsu, Mujo Kim, Yusaku Iwasaki
Summary: This study found that oral administration of GABA can suppress feeding behavior in mice by activating vagal afferent nerves. However, oral GABA does not directly affect the activity of vagal afferents. The coadministration of GABA with a liquid diet enhances this effect, thus increasing postprandial satiation.
Article
Physiology
Nicolas Montalbetti, Marianela G. Dalghi, Sheldon Bastacky, Dennis R. Clayton, Wily G. Ruiz, Gerard Apodaca, Marcelo D. Carattino
Summary: This study suggests that bacterial infection can cause sensitization of bladder sensory neurons, leading to bladder overactivity and pelvic pain.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jean -Philippe Krieger, Mohammed Asker, Pauline van der Velden, Stina Boerchers, Jennifer E. Richard, Ivana Maric, Francesco Longo, Arashdeep Singh, Guillaume de Lartigue, Karolina P. Skibicka
Summary: Anxiety disorders are associated with altered perception of internal body state. Understanding the neuronal basis of interoception through the gastrointestinal tract can lead to novel therapies for anxiety. In rodents, vagal sensory signals from the gut regulate anxiety via the central amygdala, with GABAergic signaling playing a key role in males.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel L. Wolfson, Amira Abdelaziz, Genelle Rankin, Sarah Kushner, Lijun Qi, Ofer Mazor, Seungwon Choi, Nikhil Sharma, David D. Ginty
Summary: The properties of neurons that innervate the distal colon are not well defined. This study identified distinct subsets of colon-innervating neurons with different morphologic and physiologic characteristics. These neurons exhibit diverse force thresholds to colon distension, and a specific subset mediates behavioral responses to high levels of distension and inflammation. This finding provides a potential target for therapeutic intervention in gastrointestinal diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aung Aung Kywe Moe, Alice E. McGovern, Stuart B. Mazzone
Summary: The airway nociceptors from jugular and nodose vagal ganglia play essential roles in airway protection and chronic cough. Excessive activity in jugular nociceptors may contribute to the development of chronic cough. Targeting jugular airway nociceptor signaling processes could be a promising strategy for therapeutic development in cough suppression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Laura K. Case, Nicholas Madian, Micaela McCall, Megan L. Bradson, Jaquette Liljencrantz, Benjamin Goldstein, Vincent J. Alasha, Marisa S. Zimmerman
Summary: Gentle stroking of the skin is a common social touch behavior that has positive affective consequences. The firing of unmyelinated C-tactile (CT) somatosensory afferents, which is strongly correlated with touch pleasantness, has been considered a social-affective sensory pathway. A recent study found that the contribution of mechanoreceptive A-fibers to touch pleasantness in humans without pain is unknown. In this study, the temporary elimination of A-fiber contribution to touch perception resulted in the nearly abolished perception of intensity and pleasantness of both gentle stroking and deep pressure.
Article
Physiology
Khalid Elsaafien, Scott W. Harden, Dominique N. Johnson, Aecha K. Kimball, Wanhui Sheng, Justin A. Smith, Karen A. Scott, Charles J. Frazier, Annette D. de Kloet, Eric G. Krause
Summary: The brain maintains cardiovascular homeostasis by sensing changes in blood pressure at the level of the aortic arch. By targeting the sensory neurons in the aortic arch, researchers can study the structure and function of arterial baroreceptors and their role in cardiovascular disease.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)