Activity and connectivity changes of central projection areas revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging in Na_V1.8-deficient mice upon cold signaling.

ABSTRACT: The voltage-gated sodium channel subtype Na_V1.8 is expressed in the peripheral nervous system in primary afferent nociceptive C-fibers and is essential for noxious cold signaling. We utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging on Na_V1.8-deficient (Na_V1.8^-/-) compared with wildtype (WT) mice to identify brain structures decoding noxious cold and/or heat signals. In Na_V1.8^-/- mice functional activity patterns, activated volumes and BOLD signal amplitudes are significantly reduced upon noxious cold stimulation whereas differences of noxious heat processing are less pronounced. Graph-theoretical analysis of the functional connectivity also shows dramatic alterations in noxious cold sensation in Na_V1.8^-/-

SUBMITTER: Heindl-Erdmann C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5428718 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature