The role and therapeutic targeting of hippocampal BDNF in neuropathic pain

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K10560
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Anesthesiology
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: Yokoyama Masataka 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 教授 (20158380)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 河野 崇 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 准教授 (40380076)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 脳由来神経栄養因子 / 神経障害性痛 / 慢性痛 / 加齢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Especially in the elderly, chronic pain is a major public-health burden because of its high prevalence and debilitating nature. Currently, however, several types of chronic pain, e.g., neuropathic pain, are still difficult to treat. In this project, we compared the pain sensitivity and BDNF levels after painful nerve injury between adult and aged rats. Furthermore, we examined the therapeutic potential of exogenous BDNF. Our findings demonstrated that aged rats were more susceptible to the development of sensitized pain behaviors than adult animals. Especially, the brain-region-specific reduction in hippocampal BDNF was significantly correlated with the neuropathic pain behaviors. The intra-nasal administration of BDNF produced significant anti-hyperalgesic effects in aged neuropathic animals. No adverse behavioral effects were observed. These findings imply that hippocampal BDNF may represent a novel modifiable pathogenic factor and therapeutic target for chronic pain.

Free Research Field

麻酔科学