MGluR5-mediated astrocytes hyperactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex contributes to neuropathic pain in male mice.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission in healthy and pathological conditions, but their involvement in modulating synaptic transmission in chronic pain is unknown. Our study demonstrates that astrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) exhibit abnormal calcium signals and induce the release of glutamate in male mice. This leads to an elevation in extracellular glutamate concentration, activation of presynaptic kainate receptors, and an increase in synaptic transmission following neuropathic pain. We discovered that the abnormal calcium signals are caused by the reappearance of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR5) in astrocytes in male mice. Importantly, when we specifically inhibit the Gq pathway using iβARK and reduce the expression of mGluR5 in astrocytes through shR

SUBMITTER: Shen W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11842833 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature