WWW.JNEUROSCI.ORG
-
The Journal of Neuroscience
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     
-


HOME
  |  
SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, December 12, 2007, 27(50):13739-13749; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3258-07.2007

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (8)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Starowicz, K.
Right arrow Articles by Di Marzo, V.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Starowicz, K.
Right arrow Articles by Di Marzo, V.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Cellular/Molecular
Tonic Endovanilloid Facilitation of Glutamate Release in Brainstem Descending Antinociceptive Pathways

Katarzyna Starowicz,1 * Sabatino Maione,3 * Luigia Cristino,2 Enza Palazzo,3 Ida Marabese,3 Francesca Rossi,3 Vito de Novellis,3 and Vincenzo Di Marzo1

1The Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry and 2Institute of Cybernetics "E. Caianiello," Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy, and 3Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology "L. Donatelli," Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy

Correspondence should be addressed to either Vincenzo Di Marzo or Sabatino Maione at the above addresses. Email: vdimarzo{at}icmib.na.cnr.it and Email: sabatino.maione{at}unina2.it

Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) activates OFF antinociceptive neurons of the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). We examined in rats the effect of intra-ventrolateral (VL)-PAG injections of TRPV1 agonists and antagonists on the nocifensive response to heat in the plantar test, neurotransmitter (glutamate and GABA) release in the RVM, and spontaneous and tail flick-related activities of RVM neurons. The localization of TRPV1 in VL-PAG and RVM neurons was examined using various markers of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. Intra-VL-PAG injection of capsaicin increased the threshold of thermal pain sensitivity, whereas the selective TRPV1 antagonist 5'-iodo-resiniferatoxin (I-RTX) facilitated nociceptive responses, and blocked capsaicin analgesic effect at a dose inactive per se. Intra-VL PAG capsaicin evoked a robust release of glutamate in RVM microdialysates. I-RTX, at a dose inactive per se, blocked the effect of capsaicin, and inhibited glutamate release at a higher dose. Antinociception and hyperalgesia induced by capsaicin and I-RTX, respectively, correlated with enhanced or reduced activity of RVM OFF cells. Immunohistochemical analyses suggested that several TRPV1-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in both the VL-PAG and RVM are glutamatergic and surrounded by glutamatergic and GABAergic terminals. Our data suggest that VL-PAG neurons respond to TRPV1 stimulation by releasing glutamate into the RVM, thereby activating OFF cells and producing analgesia. The results obtained with the TRPV1 antagonist alone suggest that this pathway is tonically activated by endovanilloids.

Key words: TRPV1; pain; glutamate; periaqueductal gray; descending pathway; endovanilloid


Received July 18, 2007; revised Sept. 24, 2007; accepted Oct. 24, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to either Vincenzo Di Marzo or Sabatino Maione at the above addresses. Email: vdimarzo{at}icmib.na.cnr.it and Email: sabatino.maione{at}unina2.it




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
V. A. Mitchell, H. Kawahara, and C. W. Vaughan
Neurotensin inhibition of GABAergic transmission via mGluR-induced endocannabinoid signalling in rat periaqueductal grey
J. Physiol., June 1, 2009; 587(11): 2511 - 2520.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
S. Maione, L. Cristino, A. L. Migliozzi, A. L. Georgiou, K. Starowicz, T. E. Salt, and V. Di Marzo
TRPV1 channels control synaptic plasticity in the developing superior colliculus
J. Physiol., June 1, 2009; 587(11): 2521 - 2535.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurophysiol.Home page
S. Maione, K. Starowicz, L. Cristino, F. Guida, E. Palazzo, L. Luongo, F. Rossi, I. Marabese, V. de Novellis, and V. Di Marzo
Functional Interaction Between TRPV1 and {micro}-Opioid Receptors in the Descending Antinociceptive Pathway Activates Glutamate Transmission and Induces Analgesia
J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2009; 101(5): 2411 - 2422.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BrainHome page
F. Seifert, G. Kiefer, R. DeCol, M. Schmelz, and C. Maihofner
Differential endogenous pain modulation in complex-regional pain syndrome
Brain, March 1, 2009; 132(3): 788 - 800.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
IOVSHome page
R. M. Sappington, T. Sidorova, D. J. Long, and D. J. Calkins
TRPV1: Contribution to Retinal Ganglion Cell Apoptosis and Increased Intracellular Ca2+ with Exposure to Hydrostatic Pressure
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., February 1, 2009; 50(2): 717 - 728.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
D. R. Loyd, X. Wang, and A. Z. Murphy
Sex Differences in {micro}-Opioid Receptor Expression in the Rat Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray Are Essential for Eliciting Sex Differences in Morphine Analgesia
J. Neurosci., December 24, 2008; 28(52): 14007 - 14017.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurophysiol.Home page
S. McGaraughty, K. L. Chu, B. S. Brown, C. Z. Zhu, C. Zhong, S. K. Joshi, P. Honore, C. R. Faltynek, and M. F. Jarvis
Contributions of Central and Peripheral TRPV1 Receptors to Mechanically Evoked and Spontaneous Firing of Spinal Neurons in Inflamed Rats
J Neurophysiol, December 1, 2008; 100(6): 3158 - 3166.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



-

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help

-
Copyright 2009 by Society for Neuroscience ONLINE ISSN: 1529-2401
-