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Research Articles, Neurobiology of Disease

Identification of a Glutamatergic Claustrum-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Circuit for Visceral Pain Processing

Qi-Ya Xu, Hai-Long Zhang, Han Du, Yong-Chang Li, Fu-Hai Ji, Rui Li and Guang-Yin Xu
Journal of Neuroscience 26 October 2022, 42 (43) 8154-8168; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0779-22.2022
Qi-Ya Xu
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
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Hai-Long Zhang
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
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Han Du
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
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Yong-Chang Li
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
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Fu-Hai Ji
2Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, People's Republic of China
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Rui Li
3Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, People's Republic of China
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Guang-Yin Xu
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
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Abstract

Chronic visceral pain is a major challenge for both patients and health providers. Although the central sensitization of the brain is thought to play an important role in the development of visceral pain, the detailed neural circuits remain largely unknown. Using a well-established chronic visceral hypersensitivity model induced by neonatal maternal deprivation (NMD) in male mice, we identified a distinct pathway whereby the claustrum (CL) glutamatergic neuron projecting to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is critical for visceral pain but not for CFA-evoked inflammatory pain. By a combination of in vivo circuit-dissecting extracellular electrophysiological approaches and visceral pain related electromyographic (EMG) recordings, we demonstrated that optogenetic inhibition of CL glutamatergic activity suppressed the ACC neural activity and visceral hypersensitivity of NMD mice whereas selective activation of CL glutamatergic activity enhanced the ACC neural activity and evoked visceral pain of control mice. Further, optogenetic studies demonstrate a causal link between such neuronal activity and visceral pain behaviors. Chemogenetic activation or inhibition of ACC neural activities reversed the effects of optogenetic manipulation of CL neural activities on visceral pain responses. Importantly, molecular detection showed that NMD significantly enhances the expression of NMDA receptors and activated CaMKIIα in the ACC postsynaptic density (PSD) region. Together, our data establish a functional role for CL→ACC glutamatergic neurons in gating visceral pain, thus providing a potential treatment strategy for visceral pain.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Studies have shown that sensitization of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays an important role in chronic pain. However, it is as yet unknown whether there is a specific brain region and a distinct neural circuit that helps the ACC to distinguish visceral and somatic pain. The present study demonstrates that claustrum (CL) glutamatergic neurons maybe responding to colorectal distention (CRD) rather than somatic stimulation and that a CL glutamatergic projection to ACC glutamatergic neuron regulates visceral pain in mice. Furthermore, excessive NMDA receptors and overactive CaMKIIα in the ACC postsynaptic density (PSD) region were observed in mice with chronic visceral pain. Together, these findings reveal a novel neural circuity underlying the central sensitization of chronic visceral pain.

  • anterior cingulate cortex
  • central sensitization
  • claustrum
  • neural circuit
  • visceral pain

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The Journal of Neuroscience: 42 (43)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 42, Issue 43
26 Oct 2022
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Identification of a Glutamatergic Claustrum-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Circuit for Visceral Pain Processing
Qi-Ya Xu, Hai-Long Zhang, Han Du, Yong-Chang Li, Fu-Hai Ji, Rui Li, Guang-Yin Xu
Journal of Neuroscience 26 October 2022, 42 (43) 8154-8168; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0779-22.2022

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Identification of a Glutamatergic Claustrum-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Circuit for Visceral Pain Processing
Qi-Ya Xu, Hai-Long Zhang, Han Du, Yong-Chang Li, Fu-Hai Ji, Rui Li, Guang-Yin Xu
Journal of Neuroscience 26 October 2022, 42 (43) 8154-8168; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0779-22.2022
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Keywords

  • anterior cingulate cortex
  • central sensitization
  • claustrum
  • neural circuit
  • visceral pain

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