Divergent modulation of pain and anxiety by GABAergic neurons in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe.

ABSTRACT: The ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) collaborates with the dorsal raphe (DR) in pain regulation and emotional response. However, the roles of vlPAG and DR γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in regulating nociception and anxiety are contradictory and poorly understood. Here, we observed that pharmacogenetic co-activation of vlPAG and DR GABAergic (vlPAG-DR^GABA+) neurons enhanced sensitivity to mechanical stimulation and promoted anxiety-like behavior in naïve mice. Simultaneous inhibition of vlPAG-DR^GABA+ neurons showed adaptive anti-nociception and anti-anxiety effects on mice with inflammatory pain. Notably, vlPAG^GABA+ and DR^GABA+ neurons exhibited opposing effects on the sensitivity to mechanical stimulation in both naïve state a

SUBMITTER: Xie L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10425368 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature