Journal
BRAIN RESEARCH
Volume 1371, Issue -, Pages 16-22Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.11.054
Keywords
Mustard oil; Thalamic mediodorsal nucleus; N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor; Central sensitization; Naloxone
Categories
Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences [18791395, 20390483, 21592411]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [18791395, 20390483, 21592411] Funding Source: KAKEN
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We have identified tooth pulp-driven neurons (TPDNs) in the thalamic mediodorsal nucleus (MD) in rats and showed that the TPDNs' responsiveness in the MD is increased by chemical conditioning stimulation of allyl-isothiocyanate (mustard oil) to the molar tooth pulp. The aim of the present study was to address the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDA receptors) in the sensitized central nervous system following the mustard oil application to the rat tooth pulp. Microinjection of MK-801, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, to the thalamic MD nucleus reduced the TPDNs' responsiveness in the thalamic MD nucleus. Gene expression analysis showed that expression levels of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2D mRNAs in the thalamus were increased by the mustard oil application and that the increases were reduced by MK-801. When naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, was given systemically following the MK801 microinjection, the TPDNs' responsiveness was rekindled and expression levels of NR2D and NR2A mRNAs were increased. Moreover, lidocaine pretreatment abolished the mustard oil-induced upregulation of NR2D and NR2A mRNAs. These results suggest that, during central sensitization, interaction of NMDA receptors and endogeneous opioid-related inhibitory mechanisms plays critical role in the alteration of the TPDNs' responsiveness in the thalamic MD nucleus. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available