Facial Pain Comes to Light

 Neurons that glow under the microscope offer insight into safer pain reliefIn Brief:Using an imaging technique to visualize pain signals in facial nerves, NIDCR researchers identified a protein that enhances neurons ’ responses to painful stimuli.Blocking the protein in mice blunted pain signaling; the results could inform development of safer, non-opioid pain therapies.The scientists used fluorescence to track surges of pain signaling molecules in facial nerves, which flicker like twinkling lights in response to certain types of pain-related stimuli. | Minghan Hu and Andrew DoyleFrom a throbbing tooth or aching jaw to a pounding migraine, pain in the oral and facial region —known as orofacial pain—afflicts 5% to 12% of the population. Such pain can hinder daily activities like eating, tooth-brushing, and mask-wearing, yet opioid-based pain relievers carry the risk of misuse. Understanding how facial nerves process pain signals could help scientists find safer and more effective pain interventions.NIDCR researchers recently caught facial nerves on camera responding in real time to pain signals. Their work uncovered a key role for a protein called cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in pain signaling. The collaboration between scientists in the labs of Ashok Kulkarni, PhD, and Ken Yamada, MD, PhD, showed that blocking Cdk5 blunted the activity of pain-sensing neurons. Kulkarni and Yamada credited their co-mentee, first author and NIDCR research fellow Mingha...
Source: Dental Technology Blog - Category: Dentistry Source Type: news