AI Article Synopsis
- Researchers found that low-intensity green light (200 lux) can reduce pain in mice through a specific neural circuit involving the visual cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
- The study utilized techniques like viral tracing and calcium imaging to demonstrate that green light activates glutamatergic neurons in the medial part of the secondary visual cortex (V2M), which then inhibits neurons in the ACC.
- Activation of the V2M→ACC circuit replicates the pain-relieving effects of green light, while inhibiting this circuit negates the pain relief, suggesting its key role in how green light alleviates pain.
Article Abstract
Light has been shown to relieve pain, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show that low-intensity (200 lux) green light treatment exerts antinociceptive effects through a neural circuit from the visual cortex projecting to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in mice. Specifically, viral tracing, in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, and fiber photometry recordings show that green light activated glutamatergic projections from the medial part of the secondary visual cortex (V2M) to GABAergic neurons in the ACC, which drives inhibition of local glutamatergic neurons (V2M→ACC). Optogenetic or chemogenetic activation of the V2M→ACC circuit mimics green-light-induced antinociception in both neuropathic and inflammatory pain model mice. Artificial inhibition of ACC-projecting V2M neurons abolishes the antinociception induced by green light. Taken together, our study shows the V2M-ACC circuit as a potential candidate mediating green-light-induced antinociceptive effects.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112290 | DOI Listing |
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