Contribution of µ Opioid Receptor–expressing Dorsal Horn Interneurons to Neuropathic Pain–like Behavior in Mice

ConclusionsThe authors conclude that nerve injury sensitizes pronociceptive µ opioid receptor–expressing neurons in mouse dorsal horn. Nonopioid strategies to inhibit these interneurons might yield new treatments for neuropathic pain.Editor ’s PerspectiveWhat We Already Know about This TopicCentral sensitization, resulting from maladaptive changes in the excitation or inhibition balance of neuronal networks in the spinal cord, is widely considered to be a key mechanism leading to chronic neuropathic painThe contribution of spinal µ opioid receptor–expressing interneurons to the development of chronic neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury is incompletely understoodWhat This Article Tells Us That Is NewIn mice, peripheral sciatic nerve injury reduced µ opioid receptor gene expression and increased the intrinsic excitability and spontaneous synaptic activity of µ opioid receptor–expressing interneurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cordChemogenetic activation of µ opioid receptor–expressing interneurons produced mechanical allodynia, while chemogenetic inhibition reduced behavioral signs of neuropathic pain
Source: Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research