北京大学You Wan和Ming Yi共同合作，近期取得重要工作进展。他们研究发现了慢性炎症性疼痛大鼠边缘下皮层的动态变化及其对前额叶皮层的调节功能。相关研究成果2024年1月5日在线发表于《神经科学通报》杂志上。

据介绍，前边缘皮层（PL）积极参与疼痛调节，而边缘下皮质（IL）能够调节PL。然而，这种调节如何影响疼痛仍不清楚。

研究人员通过体内电生理记录，记录了患有外周炎症的大鼠PL锥体神经元对伤害性刺激的暂时性高活性反应，但IL暂时性功能低下。PL或IL的操作对热痛觉过敏有相反的作用。

此外，亚区之间的功能连接和化学遗传学调节表明IL对PL的抑制作用。从IL到PL的通路的激活减轻了热痛觉过敏，而其抑制加剧了慢性疼痛。

总之，这一研究结果表明，内侧前额叶皮层在慢性疼痛中的作用有一个新的机制：IL功能低下导致PL过度活跃，PL调节热痛觉过敏，从而导致慢性疼痛。

附：英文原文

Title: Dynamic Changes of the Infralimbic Cortex and Its Regulation of the Prelimbic Cortex in Rats with Chronic Inflammatory Pain

Author: Ma, Longyu, Yue, Lupeng, Liu, Shuting, Zhang, Yu, Zhang, Meng, Cui, Shuang, Liu, Feng-Yu, Yi, Ming, Wan, You

Issue&Volume: 2024-01-05

Abstract: The prelimbic cortex (PL) is actively engaged in pain modulation. The infralimbic cortex (IL) has been reported to regulate the PL. However, how this regulation affects pain remains unclear. In the present study, we recorded temporary hyper-activity of PL pyramidal neurons responding to nociceptive stimuli, but a temporary hypo-function of the IL by in vivo electrophysiological recording in rats with peripheral inflammation. Manipulation of the PL or IL had opposite effects on thermal hyperalgesia. Furthermore, the functional connectivity and chemogenetic regulation between the subregions indicated an inhibitory influence of the IL on the PL. Activation of the pathway from the IL to the PL alleviated thermal hyperalgesia, whereas its inhibition exacerbated chronic pain. Overall, our results suggest a new mechanism underlying the role of the medial prefrontal cortex in chronic pain: hypo-function of the IL leads to hyperactivity of the PL, which regulates thermal hyperalgesia, and thus contributes to the chronicity of pain.

DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01159-x

Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12264-023-01159-x