Stress-induced enhancement of pain : neuroplastic changes of pain modulation system in the brain

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460702
• 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): 木村 晃久 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20225022)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• 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 human and animal produces hyperalgesia (enhancement of nociceptive reaction). However the mechanism remains unknown. In the present study we have demonstrated that the chronic stress enhances inflammatory mechanical hypersensitivity and attenuates the expression of pCREB and ΔFosB and the acetylation of histone H3 in the insular cortex (IC). In contrast we have also demonstrated that the chronic stress enhances the expression of these transcription factors and the acetylation of histone H3 in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). These results have clearly shown that hypoactivity in the IC and hyperactivity in the RVM are involved in chronic stress-induced hyperalgesia.

Free Research Field

疼痛学