Plastic change of prefrontal cortex mediates anxiety-like behaviors associated with chronic pain in neuropathic rats.

ABSTRACT: Clinical studies show that anxiety and chronic pain are concomitant. The neural basis for the comorbidity is unclear. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been recognized as a critical area for affective disorders and chronic pain modulation. In this study, we examined the role of the PFC in the pathogenesis of anxiety associated with chronic pain in a rat model of neuropathic pain with spare nerve injury (SNI). The SNI rats showed apparent anxiety-like behaviors in both open field (OF) test and elevated-plus maze (EPM) test eight weeks after surgery. Thus, the number of entries to the central area in the OF decreased to 45% (±5%, n?=?15) of sham control (n?=?17), while the overall motor activity (i.e., total distance) was unaffected. In the EPM, the percentage of entries into the open arms significantly (p?

SUBMITTER: Sang K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6077894 | biostudies-other | 2018 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other