Functional dichotomy in spinal- vs prefrontal-projecting locus coeruleus modules splits descending noradrenergic analgesia from ascending aversion and anxiety in rats.

ABSTRACT: The locus coeruleus (LC) projects throughout the brain and spinal cord and is the major source of central noradrenaline. It remains unclear whether the LC acts functionally as a single global effector or as discrete modules. Specifically, while spinal-projections from LC neurons can exert analgesic actions, it is not known whether they can act independently of ascending LC projections. Using viral vectors taken up at axon terminals, we expressed chemogenetic actuators selectively in LC neurons with spinal (LC^:SC) or prefrontal cortex (LC^:PFC) projections. Activation of the LC^:SC module produced robust, lateralised anti-nociception while activation of LC^:PFC produced aversion. In a neuropathic pain model, LC^:SC<

SUBMITTER: Hirschberg S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5653237 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature