Obesity increases nociceptive activation of the trigeminal system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obesity is a risk factor associated with several pain syndromes. However, the mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and pain are not known. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that obesity enhances neuronal responses to nociceptive stimulation within the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC).

Methods

Male and female C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat or regular diet from the time of weaning until 20 weeks of age. We then quantified neuronal activation by measuring Fos immunoreactivity within the TNC in response to a facial injection of a low dose of capsaicin (1 μg/10 μL).

Results

We found that 0.01% capsaicin did not significantly increase Fos immunoreactivity in control mice fed a regular diet. In contrast, this low dose of capsaic

SUBMITTER: Rossi HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4275045 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature