Neuroinflammation in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus precipitates visceral pain induced by pancreatic cancer in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Given the pivotal role of neuroinflammation in chronic pain and that the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) is a crucial brain region involved in visceral pain regulation, we sought to investigate whether the targeted modulation of microglia and astrocytes in the PVN could ameliorate pancreatic cancer-induced visceral pain (PCVP) in mice.

Methods

Using a mouse model of PCVP, achieved by tumor cell injection at the head of the pancreas, we measure the number of glial cells, and at the same time we employed minocycline to inhibit microglia and chemogenetic methods to suppress astrocytes in order to investigate the respective roles of microglia and astrocytes within the PVN in PCVP.

Results

Mice exhibited visceral pain at 12, 15 and 18 days post

SUBMITTER: Ji NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10932673 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature