Elucidation of brain mechanism underlying stress-induced hyperalgesia

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23590717
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pain science
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: IMBE Hiroki 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (60326353)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KIMURA Akihisa 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20225022)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2014
• Keywords: ストレス / 疼痛学 / 下行性疼痛調節系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been known that exposure to chronic stress for animal produces hyperalgesia (enhancement of nociceptive reaction). However the mechanism remains unknown. In the present study we have demonstrated that reductions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), astrocyte-specific cytoskeletal protein, and glia glutamate transporter levels in the periaqueductal gray matter were observed in the rats with chronic stress-induced hyperalgesia and that in chronic stress group, the GFAP protein level in the rostral ventromedial medulla was positively correlated with mechanical threshold. These results have clearly shown that the glial change in descending pain modulatory system is involved in chronic stress-induced hyperalgesia.

Free Research Field

疼痛学