RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Activation of Corticostriatal Circuitry Relieves Chronic Neuropathic Pain
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 5247
OP 5259
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3494-14.2015
VO 35
IS 13
A1 Michelle Lee
A1 Toby R. Manders
A1 Sarah E. Eberle
A1 Chen Su
A1 James D'amour
A1 Runtao Yang
A1 Hau Yueh Lin
A1 Karl Deisseroth
A1 Robert C. Froemke
A1 Jing Wang
YR 2015
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/13/5247.abstract
AB Neural circuits that determine the perception and modulation of pain remain poorly understood. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) provides top-down control of sensory and affective processes. While animal and human imaging studies have shown that the PFC is involved in pain regulation, its exact role in pain states remains incompletely understood. A key output target for the PFC is the nucleus accumbens (NAc), an important component of the reward circuitry. Interestingly, recent human imaging studies suggest that the projection from the PFC to the NAc is altered in chronic pain. The function of this corticostriatal projection in pain states, however, is not known. Here we show that optogenetic activation of the PFC produces strong antinociceptive effects in a rat model (spared nerve injury model) of persistent neuropathic pain. PFC activation also reduces the affective symptoms of pain. Furthermore, we show that this pain-relieving function of the PFC is likely mediated by projections to the NAc. Thus, our results support a novel role for corticostriatal circuitry in pain regulation.