Neurons in the rostral portion of the ventromedial medulla (RVM) inhibit nociception in animal models of pain and play a key role in mediation of opiate analgesia. In addition, though, it has been shown that spinally projecting neurons in the RVM can facilitate nociception. Descending facilitatory neurons may mediate hyperalgesia due to inflammation; allodynia associated with neuropathic pain and may underlie aspects of opiate tolerance. However, the neurotransmitters and circuits by which descending facilitation occurs are not known. Spinally projecting neurons expressing glutamate and cholecystokinin (CCK), 2 excitatory neurotransmitters, have been reported in the RVM; Spinal glutamate receptors and CCK receptors have been reported to facilitate nociception. Thus, we propose in this application that RVM neurons expressing glutamate and/or CCK directly excite spinal nociceptive neurons.
The Specific Aims of this application test corollaries of that proposition using a combination of tract-tracing, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and in vivo electrophysiology.
In Aims 1 and 2 we propose to test whether RVM neurons containing glutamate and/or CCK innervate the spinal dorsal horn, including marginal zone and spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons.
In Aim 3, we propose to test whether spinal cord marginal zone neurons, STT neurons and primary afferent neurons express receptors for CCK.
Aim 4 proposes to test whether nociceptive neurons in rats are excited by CCK;
Aim 5 proposes to determine whether spinal CCK antagonists reduce the nociceptive facilitation of spinal neurons evoked by stimulation of the RVM. Testing these hypotheses will clarify the role of spinally projecting glutamatergic and CCK RVM neurons in descending facilitation and may suggest strategies by which pain and opiate tolerance can be reduced.
| Leong, Mai Lan; Speltz, Rebecca; Wessendorf, Martin (2016) Effects of chronic constriction injury and spared nerve injury, two models of neuropathic pain, on the numbers of neurons and glia in the rostral ventromedial medulla. Neurosci Lett 617:82-7 |
| Leong, Mai Lan; Gu, Ming; Speltz-Paiz, Rebecca et al. (2011) Neuronal loss in the rostral ventromedial medulla in a rat model of neuropathic pain. J Neurosci 31:17028-39 |
| Arora, Devinder; Hearing, Matthew; Haluk, Desirae M et al. (2011) Acute cocaine exposure weakens GABA(B) receptor-dependent G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ signaling in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area. J Neurosci 31:12251-7 |
| Gu, Ming; Wessendorf, Martin (2007) Endomorphin-2-immunoreactive fibers selectively appose serotonergic neuronal somata in the rostral ventral medial medulla. J Comp Neurol 502:701-13 |
