Microglia in the Primary Somatosensory Barrel Cortex Mediate Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain

Yuping Wang; Peng Cao; Lisheng Mei; Weiwei Yin; Yu Mao; Chaoshi Niu; Zhi Zhang; Wenjuan Tao

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.034

Microglia in the Primary Somatosensory Barrel Cortex Mediate Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain

Neuroscience. 2019 Aug 21:414:299-310. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.034. Epub 2019 Jun 8.

Authors

Yuping Wang¹, Peng Cao¹, Lisheng Mei¹, Weiwei Yin¹, Yu Mao², Chaoshi Niu³, Zhi Zhang⁴, Wenjuan Tao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China.
² Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, PR China.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, PR China.
⁴ Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China. Electronic address: zhizhang@ustc.edu.cn.
⁵ Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Department of Biophysics and Neurobiology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, PR China; Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, PR China. Electronic address: wjtao01@ustc.edu.cn.

PMID: 31181369
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.034

Abstract

Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TGN) is an attacking, abrupt, electric-shock headache involving abnormal cortical activity. The neural mechanism underlying TGN remains elusive. In this study, we explored the role of microglia in the primary somatosensory barrel cortex (S1BF), which is a critical region for TGN, of a mouse model of TGN that displayed significant pain-related behaviors. Using electrophysiological recordings, we found robust neuronal hyperactivity in glutamatergic neurons of S1BF (Glu^S1BF). Chemogenetic inhibition of Glu^S1BF neurons significantly relieved mechanical allodynia in TGN mice. In naïve mice, chemogenetic activation of Glu^S1BF neurons induced pain sensitization. In addition, we found that microglia in the S1BF (microglia^S1BF) were significantly activated, with density and morphology changes. Intraperitoneal administration of minocycline, a microglia inhibitor, attenuated pain sensitization, and decreased Glu^S1BF neuronal activity. Together, these findings demonstrate the putative importance of microglia as a key regulator in TGN through actions on Glu^S1BF neuronal adaptation.

Keywords: Chronic constriction injury; glutamatergic neurons; microglia; trigeminal neuropathic pain.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Disease Models, Animal
Glutamic Acid / metabolism
Hyperalgesia / metabolism*
Hyperalgesia / physiopathology
Mice
Microglia / metabolism*
Neuralgia / metabolism*
Neuralgia / physiopathology
Neurons / metabolism*
Somatosensory Cortex / metabolism*
Somatosensory Cortex / physiopathology

Substances

Glutamic Acid