Dataset Information

Paraventricular nucleus-central amygdala oxytocinergic projection modulates pain-related anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Anxiety disorders associated with pain are a common health problem. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the role of paraventricular nucleus (PVN)-central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) oxytocinergic projections in anxiety-like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.

Methods

After inflammatory pain induction by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), mice underwent elevated plus maze, light-dark transition test, and marble burying test to examine the anxiety-like behaviors. Chemogenetic, optogenetic, and fiber photometry recordings were used to modulate and record the activity of the oxytocinergic projections of the PVN-CeA.

Results

The key results are as follows: inflammatory pain-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice accompanied by decreased activity of PVN oxytocin neurons. Chemogenetic activation of PVN oxytocin neurons prevented pain-related anxiety-like behaviors, whereas inhibition of PVN oxytocin neurons induced anxiety-like behaviors in naïve mice. PVN oxytocin neurons projected directly to the CeA, and microinjection of oxytocin into the CeA blocked anxiety-like behaviors. Inflammatory pain also decreased the activity of CeA neurons, and optogenetic activation of PVN^oxytocin -CeA circuit prevented anxiety-like behavior in response to inflammatory pain.

Conclusion

The results of our study suggest that oxytocin has anti-anxiety effects and provide novel insights into the role of PVN^oxytocin -CeA projections in the regulation of anxiety-like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.

SUBMITTER: Li YJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10580334 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Paraventricular nucleus-central amygdala oxytocinergic projection modulates pain-related anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

Li Yu-Jie YJ Du Wei-Jia WJ Liu Rui R Zan Gui-Ying GY Ye Bing-Lu BL Li Qian Q Sheng Zhi-Hao ZH Yuan Ya-Wei YW Song Yu-Jie YJ Liu Jing-Gen JG Liu Zhi-Qiang ZQ

CNS neuroscience & therapeutics 20230529 11

<h4>Aims</h4>Anxiety disorders associated with pain are a common health problem. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the role of paraventricular nucleus (PVN)-central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) oxytocinergic projections in anxiety-like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.<h4>Methods</h4>After inflammatory pain induction by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), mice underwent elevated plus maze, light-dark transition test, and marble burying test ...[more]

PMID: 37248645

Similar Datasets

Project description:As one of the thalamic midline nuclei, the thalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVT) is considered to be an important signal integration site for many descending and ascending pathways that modulate a variety of behaviors, including feeding, emotions, and drug-seeking. A recent study has demonstrated that the PVT is implicated in the acute visceral pain response, but it is unclear whether the PVT plays a critical role in the central processing of chronic pain. Here, we report that the neurons in the posterior portion of the PVT (pPVT) and their downstream pathway are involved in descending nociceptive facilitation regarding the development of neuropathic pain conditions in male rats. Lesions or inhibition of pPVT neurons alleviated mechanical allodynia induced by spared nerve injury (SNI). The excitability of pPVT-central amygdala (CeA) projection neurons was significantly increased in SNI rats. Importantly, selective optogenetic activation of the pPVT-CeA pathway induced obvious mechanical hypersensitivity in naive rats. In addition, we used rabies virus (RV)-based and cell-type-specific retrograde transsynaptic tracing techniques to define a novel neuronal circuit in which glutamatergic neurons in the vlPAG were the target of the pPVT-CeA descending facilitation pathway. Our data suggest that this pPVTGlu+-CeA-vlPAGGlu+ circuit mediates central mechanisms of descending pain facilitation underlying persistent pain conditions.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Studies have shown that the interactions between the posterior portion of the thalamic paraventricular nucleus (pPVT) and central amygdala (CeA) play a critical role in pain-related emotional regulation. However, most reports have associated this circuit with fear and anxiety behaviors. Here, an integrative approach of behavioral tests, electrophysiology, and immunohistochemistry was used to advance the novel concept that the pPVT-CeA pathway activation facilitates neuropathic pain processing. Using rabies virus (RV)-based and cell-type-specific retrograde transsynaptic tracing techniques, we found that glutamatergic neurons in the vlPAG were the target of the pPVT-CeA pathway. Thus, this study indicates the involvement of a pPVTGlu+-CeA-vlPAGGlu+ pathway in a descending facilitatory mechanism underlying neuropathic pain.

Dataset Information

Paraventricular nucleus-central amygdala oxytocinergic projection modulates pain-related anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Paraventricular nucleus-central amygdala oxytocinergic projection modulates pain-related anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

Similar Datasets

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