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Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research

Mechanisms involved in extraterritorial facial pain following cervical spinal nerve injury in rats

Authors: Azusa Kobayashi, Masamichi Shinoda, Barry J Sessle, Kuniya Honda, Yoshiki Imamura, Suzuro Hitomi, Yoshiyuki Tsuboi, Akiko Okada-Ogawa, Koichi Iwata

Published in: Molecular Pain | Issue 1/2011

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study is to clarify the neural mechanisms underlying orofacial pain abnormalities after cervical spinal nerve injury. Nocifensive behavior, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) expression and astroglial cell activation in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) and upper cervical spinal dorsal horn (C1-C2) neurons were analyzed in rats with upper cervical spinal nerve transection (CNX).

Results

The head withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation of the lateral facial skin and head withdrawal latency to heating of the lateral facial skin were significantly lower and shorter respectively in CNX rats compared to Sham rats. These nocifensive effects were apparent within 1 day after CNX and lasted for more than 21 days. The numbers of pERK-like immunoreactive (LI) cells in superficial laminae of Vc and C1-C2 were significantly larger in CNX rats compared to Sham rats following noxious and non-noxious mechanical or thermal stimulation of the lateral facial skin at day 7 after CNX. Two peaks of pERK-LI cells were observed in Vc and C1-C2 following mechanical and heat stimulation of the lateral face. The number of pERK-LI cells in C1-C2 was intensity-dependent and increased when the mechanical and heat stimulations of the face were increased. The decrements of head withdrawal latency to heat and head withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation were reversed during intrathecal (i.t.) administration of MAPK/ERK kinase 1/2 inhibitor PD98059. The area of activated astroglial cells was significantly higher in CNX rats (at day 7 after CNX). The heat and mechanical nocifensive behaviors were significantly depressed and the number of pERK-LI cells in Vc and C1-C2 following noxious and non-noxious mechanical stimulation of the face was also significantly decreased following i.t. administration of the astroglial inhibitor fluoroacetate.

Conclusions

The present findings have demonstrated that mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia occur in the lateral facial skin after CNX and also suggest that ERK phosphorylation of Vc and C1-C2 neurons and astroglial cell activation are involved in orofacial extraterritorial pain following cervical nerve injury.

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Title: Mechanisms involved in extraterritorial facial pain following cervical spinal nerve injury in rats
Authors: Azusa Kobayashi
Masamichi Shinoda
Barry J Sessle
Kuniya Honda
Yoshiki Imamura
Suzuro Hitomi
Yoshiyuki Tsuboi
Akiko Okada-Ogawa
Koichi Iwata
Publication date: 01-12-2011
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Molecular Pain / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1744-8069
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8069-7-12

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Mechanisms involved in extraterritorial facial pain following cervical spinal nerve injury in rats

Abstract

Background

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Results

Conclusions

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