| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
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| Research Abstract |
We evaluated the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in orofacial neuropathic pain mechanisms. The nocifensive behavior was significantly enhanced in chronic constriction nerve injury of the infraorbital nerve (ION-CCI) rat. ION-CCI rats had an increased number of phosphorylated ERK immunoreactive (pERK-IR) cells. After intrathecal administration of the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 in ION-CCI rats, the enhanced thermal nocifensive behavior but not the mechanical nocifensive behavior were significantly reduced in ION-CCI rats. The responses of wide dynamic range neurons to noxious mechanical and thermal stimulation in ION-CCI rats were significantly depressed following i.t. administration of PD98059, whereas responses to non-noxious mechanical and thermal stimulation were not altered. The present findings suggest that pERK-IR neurons play a pivotal role in the development of thermal hypersensitivity in the face following trigeminal nerve injury.
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