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Papers of the Week


Papers: 2 Feb 2019 - 8 Feb 2019


Animal Studies


2019 May


J Neurochem


149


3

Endogenous TRPA1 and TRPV1 activity potentiates glutamatergic input to spinal lamina I neurons in inflammatory pain.

Authors

Abstract

Inflammatory pain is associated with peripheral and central sensitization, but the underlying synaptic plasticity at the spinal cord level is poorly understood. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels expressed at peripheral nerve endings, including TRPA1 and TRPV1, can detect nociceptive stimuli. In this study, we determined the contribution of presynaptic TRPA1 and TRPV1 at the spinal cord level to regulating nociceptive drive in chronic inflammatory pain induced by treatment with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in rats. CFA treatment caused a large increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in lamina I, but not lamina II outer zone, dorsal horn neurons. However, blocking NMDA receptors had no effect on spontaneous EPSCs in lamina I neurons of CFA-treated rats. Application of a specific TRPA1 antagonist, AM-0902, or of a specific TRPV1 antagonist, 5'-iodoresiniferatoxin, significantly attenuated the elevated frequency of spontaneous EPSCs and miniature EPSCs, the amplitude of monosynaptic EPSCs evoked from the dorsal root in lamina I neurons of CFA-treated rats. AM-0902 and 5'-iodoresiniferatoxin had no effect on evoked or miniature EPSCs in lamina I neurons of vehicle-treated rats. In addition, intrathecal injection of AM-0902 or 5'-iodoresiniferatoxin significantly reduced pain hypersensitivity in CFA-treated rats but had no effect on acute nociception in vehicle-treated rats. These findings suggest that chronic inflammatory pain is associated with NMDA receptor-independent potentiation in glutamatergic drive to spinal lamina I neurons. Endogenous presynaptic TRPA1 and TRPV1 activity at the spinal level contributes to increased nociceptive input from primary sensory nerves to dorsal horn neurons in inflammatory pain. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.