Optogenetic inhibition of ventrolateral orbitofrontal cortex astrocytes facilitates ventrolateral periaqueductal gray glutamatergic activity to reduce hypersensitivity in infraorbital nerve injury rat model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) is a chronic condition characterized by heightened nociceptive responses and neuroinflammatory changes. While astrocytes are recognized as critical players in pain modulation, their specific role in influencing descending trigeminal pain pathways via ventrolateral orbitofrontal cortex (vlOFC) activity modulation remains underexplored. Therefore, we investigated the impact of optogenetic modulation of astrocytes in the vlOFC on pain hypersensitivity in a rat model of chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION).

Method

Adult female Sprague Dawley rats underwent ION constriction to mimic TNP symptoms, with naive and sham animals serving as controls. AAV8-GFAP-hChR2-mCherry, AAV8-GFAP-eNpHR3.0-mCherry, or AAV8-GFAP

SUBMITTER: Islam J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11854010 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature