A new pain regulation systems activated by the crosstalk between brain striatum and neuropeptides

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08233
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General pharmacology
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Nakata Yoshihiro 広島大学, 医歯薬保健学研究科(薬), 名誉教授 (40133152)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 森岡 徳光 広島大学, 医歯薬保健学研究科(薬), 教授 (20346505)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: Substance P / Striatum / Volume transmitter / Pain

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The striatum is involved in not only the modulation of motor functioning but also in nociceptive processing. One brain nucleus that could be a projection target of striatal neurons is the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Peripheral nociceptive stimulation induces a slow-on set substance P (SP) release as a volume transmitter and evokes phosphorylation of ERK by the NK-1 receptor activation.
Continuous striatal infusion of SP by the reverse microanalysis method diffuses with extra low concentration of SP into the striatum and likely to mimic volume transmission. In present study, the data demonstrated that the activation of the SP-volume transmission but not wired transmission in the striatum attenuated tissue injury-induced nociception using neuropathic pain model rats.These observations suggest that the modulation of the SP volume transmission system in the striatum could be a potent therapeutic target for patients with chronic pain due to neurological disorders.

Free Research Field

neuropharmacology