Spinal GABAergic disinhibition allows microglial activation mediating the development of nociplastic pain in male mice.

ABSTRACT: Previously we developed a murine model in which postinjury stimulation of an injured area triggers a transition to a nociplastic pain state manifesting as persistent mechanical hypersensitivity outside of the previously injured area. This hypersensitivity was maintained by sex-specific mechanisms; specifically, activated spinal microglia maintained the hypersensitivity only in males. Here we investigated whether spinal microglia drive the transition from acute injury-induced pain to nociplastic pain in males, and if so, how they are activated by normally innocuous stimulation after peripheral injury. Using intraplantar capsaicin injection as an acute peripheral injury and vibration of the injured paw as postinjury stimulation, we found that inhibition of spinal microglia prevents the vibra

SUBMITTER: McDonough KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9855286 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature