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Function of mGlu1 receptors in the modulation of nociceptive processing in the thalamus.

ABSTRACT: As postsynaptic metabotropic subtype 1 (mGlu1) receptors are present in the thalamus, we have investigated the effect of potentiating and antagonising mGlu1 receptors on responses of thalamic neurones to noxious sensory stimulation. Extracellular recordings were made in vivo with multi-barrel iontophoretic electrodes from single neurones in the thalamus of urethane-anaesthetised rats. Responses to iontophoretic applications of the Group I mGlu agonist 3,5-dihydroxy-phenylglycine (DHPG) were selectively potentiated by co-application of the mGlu1 positive allosteric modulator Ro67-4853, whereas they were selectively reduced upon co-application of the mGlu1 receptor orthosteric antagonist LY367385. This indicates that thalamic DHPG responses are mediated primarily via mGlu1 receptors, consistent with the high postsynaptic levels of this receptor in the thalamus. Furthermore, potentiation of DHPG responses by Ro67-4853 were greater when the initial DHPG response was of a low magnitude. Ro67-4853 also potentiated responses of thalamic neurones to noxious thermal stimulation, whilst having little effect on the baseline activity of nociceptive neurones. By contrast, nociceptive responses were reduced by LY367385. In a further series of experiments we found that inactivation of somatosensory cortex by cooling resulted in a reduction of thalamic nociceptive responses. These results underline the importance of mGlu1 receptors in the processing of sensory information in the thalamus, particularly with respect to nociceptive responses. Furthermore, the involvement of mGlu1 receptors may reflect the activity of descending cortico-thalamic afferents.

SUBMITTER: Salt TE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3989022 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Function of mGlu1 receptors in the modulation of nociceptive processing in the thalamus.

Salt T E TE Jones H E HE Copeland C S CS Sillito A M AM

Neuropharmacology 20131224

As postsynaptic metabotropic subtype 1 (mGlu1) receptors are present in the thalamus, we have investigated the effect of potentiating and antagonising mGlu1 receptors on responses of thalamic neurones to noxious sensory stimulation. Extracellular recordings were made in vivo with multi-barrel iontophoretic electrodes from single neurones in the thalamus of urethane-anaesthetised rats. Responses to iontophoretic applications of the Group I mGlu agonist 3,5-dihydroxy-phenylglycine (DHPG) were sele ...[more]

PMID: 24373900

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Project description:BackgroundAlthough a number of clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated analgesic effects of cannabinoid treatments, there are also instances when cannabinoids have had no effect or even exacerbated pain. The observed pro-nociceptive effects appear to be due to cannabinoid-induced disinhibition of afferent synaptic input to nociceptive circuits. To better understand how cannabinoid-mediated plasticity can have both pro- and anti-nociceptive effects, we examined the possibility that cannabinoids differentially modulate nociceptive vs. non-nociceptive synapses onto a shared postsynaptic target. These experiments were carried out in the central nervous system (CNS) of the medicinal leech, in which it is possible to intracellularly record from presynaptic nociceptive (N-cell) or pressure-sensitive (P-cell) neurons and their shared postsynaptic targets.ResultsThe endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2AG) elicited significant long-lasting depression in nociceptive (N-cell) synapses. However, non-nociceptive (P-cell) synapses were potentiated following 2AG treatment. 2AG-induced potentiation of non-nociceptive synapses was blocked by the TRPV antagonist SB366791, suggesting involvement of the same TRPV-like receptor that has already been shown to mediate endocannabinoid-dependent depression in nociceptive inputs. Treatment with the GABA receptor antagonist bicuculline also blocked 2AG-induced potentiation, consistent with the idea that increased synaptic signaling was the result of endocannabinoid-mediated disinhibition. Interestingly, while bicuculline by itself increased non-nociceptive synaptic transmission, nociceptive synapses were depressed by this GABA receptor antagonist indicating that nociceptive synapses were actually excited by GABAergic input. Consistent with these observations, GABA application depolarized the nociceptive afferent and hyperpolarized the non-nociceptive afferent.ConclusionsThese findings show that endocannabinoids can differentially modulate nociceptive vs. non-nociceptive synapses and that GABAergic regulation of these synapses plays an important role in determining whether endocannabinoids have a potentiating or depressing effect.

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Function of mGlu1 receptors in the modulation of nociceptive processing in the thalamus.

Publications

Function of mGlu1 receptors in the modulation of nociceptive processing in the thalamus.

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