The anterior cingulate cortex controls the hyperactivity in subthalamic neurons in male mice with comorbid chronic pain and depression.

ABSTRACT: Neurons in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) become hyperactive following nerve injury and promote pain-related responses in mice. Considering that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in pain and emotion processing and projects to the STN, we hypothesize that ACC neurons may contribute to hyperactivity in STN neurons in chronic pain. In the present study, we showed that ACC neurons enhanced activity in response to noxious stimuli and to alterations in emotional states and became hyperactive in chronic pain state established by spared nerve injury of the sciatic nerve (SNI) in mice. In naïve mice, STN neurons were activated by noxious stimuli, but not by alterations in emotional states. Pain responses in STN neurons were attenuated in both naïve and SNI mice when ACC neurons were in

SUBMITTER: Wang YD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10883538 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature