Analgesic mechanism of gabapentinoid in the brain

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460700
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pain science
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO TATSUO 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(医), 教授 (20200818)
• Research Collaborator: NONAKA Takahiro ; SHINOZAKI Tomonari
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 青斑核 / 中脳水道周辺灰白質 / α2δサブユニット / ガバペンチノイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been suggested that pregabalin/gabapentin binds alpha-2-delta-1 subunit of Ca2+ channel and produces an analgesic effect in the spinal dorsal horn. In the brain, pregabalin/gabapentin has been reported to act at locus coeruleus (LC) and to produce an analgesic effect, but there was no report to reveal the expression of alpha-2-delta-1 subunit in the LC. In this study, we examined the expression of alpha-2-delta-1 subunit in the brain, especially in the LC, PAG and the adjacent nucleus. We found that alpha-2-delta-1 subunit was not expressed in the LC, but in the adjacent nucleus, the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. alpha-2-delta-1 subunit was no expressed in the PAG. We also found that nerve injury did not affect the expression of alpha-2-delta-1 subunit in the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve.

Free Research Field

麻酔科学