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A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rodriguez, E; Sakurai, K; Xu, J; Chen, Y; Toda, K; Zhao, S; Han, B-X; Ryu, D; Yin, H; Liedtke, W; Wang, F
Published in: Nat Neurosci
December 2017

Humans often rank craniofacial pain as more severe than body pain. Evidence suggests that a stimulus of the same intensity induces stronger pain in the face than in the body. However, the underlying neural circuitry for the differential processing of facial versus bodily pain remains unknown. Interestingly, the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL), a critical node in the affective pain circuit, is activated more strongly by noxious stimulation of the face than of the hindpaw. Using a novel activity-dependent technology called CANE developed in our laboratory, we identified and selectively labeled noxious-stimulus-activated PBL neurons and performed comprehensive anatomical input-output mapping. Surprisingly, we uncovered a hitherto uncharacterized monosynaptic connection between cranial sensory neurons and the PBL-nociceptive neurons. Optogenetic activation of this monosynaptic craniofacial-to-PBL projection induced robust escape and avoidance behaviors and stress calls, whereas optogenetic silencing specifically reduced facial nociception. The monosynaptic circuit revealed here provides a neural substrate for heightened craniofacial affective pain.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Nat Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1546-1726

Publication Date

December 2017

Volume

20

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1734 / 1743

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Synapses
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Optogenetics
  • Nociceptors
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Male
  • Genes, fos
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Rodriguez, E., Sakurai, K., Xu, J., Chen, Y., Toda, K., Zhao, S., … Wang, F. (2017). A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain. Nat Neurosci, 20(12), 1734–1743. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-017-0012-1
Rodriguez, Erica, Katsuyasu Sakurai, Jennie Xu, Yong Chen, Koji Toda, Shengli Zhao, Bao-Xia Han, et al. “A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain.Nat Neurosci 20, no. 12 (December 2017): 1734–43. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-017-0012-1.
Rodriguez E, Sakurai K, Xu J, Chen Y, Toda K, Zhao S, et al. A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain. Nat Neurosci. 2017 Dec;20(12):1734–43.
Rodriguez, Erica, et al. “A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain.Nat Neurosci, vol. 20, no. 12, Dec. 2017, pp. 1734–43. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/s41593-017-0012-1.
Rodriguez E, Sakurai K, Xu J, Chen Y, Toda K, Zhao S, Han B-X, Ryu D, Yin H, Liedtke W, Wang F. A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain. Nat Neurosci. 2017 Dec;20(12):1734–1743.

Published In

Nat Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1546-1726

Publication Date

December 2017

Volume

20

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1734 / 1743

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Synapses
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Optogenetics
  • Nociceptors
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Male
  • Genes, fos
  • Female