Neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can provide top-down regulation of sensory-affective experiences such as pain. Bottom-up modulation of sensory coding in the PFC, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we examined how oxytocin (OT) signaling from the hypothalamus regulates nociceptive coding in the PFC. In vivo time-lapse endoscopic calcium imaging in freely behaving rats showed that OT selectively enhanced population activity in the prelimbic PFC in response to nociceptive inputs. This population response resulted from the reduction of evoked GABAergic inhibition and manifested as elevated functional connectivity involving pain-responsive neurons. Direct inputs from OT-releasing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus are crucial to maintaining this prefrontal nociceptive response. Activation of the prelimbic PFC by OT or direct optogenetic stimulation of oxytocinergic PVN projections reduced acute and chronic pain. These results suggest that oxytocinergic signaling in the PVN-PFC circuit constitutes a key mechanism to regulate cortical sensory processing.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10272109 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.014 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
This article provides an overview of vitamin C for preventing and treating respiratory infections. Studies in a wide variety of animals have shown vitamin C to be protective against infections. In controlled trials in the general human population, >1 g/day vitamin C did not prevent common colds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrebiotics as modulators of colonic calcium and magnesium uptake.
Acta Physiol (Oxf)
February 2025
Institute for Molecular Medicine, Health and Medical University Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Ca and Mg are essential nutrients, and deficiency can cause serious health problems. Thus, lack of Ca and Mg can lead to osteoporosis, with incidence rising both in absolute and age-specific terms, while Mg deficiency is associated with type II diabetes. Prevention via vitamin D or estrogen is controversial, and the bioavailability of Ca and Mg from supplements is significantly lower than that from milk products.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsulin degrading enzyme (IDE) is a dimeric 110 kDa M16A zinc metalloprotease that degrades amyloidogenic peptides diverse in shape and sequence, including insulin, amylin, and amyloid-β, to prevent toxic amyloid fibril formation. IDE has a hollow catalytic chamber formed by four homologous subdomains organized into two ∼55 kDa N- and C-domains (IDE-N and IDE-C, respectively), in which peptides bind, unfold, and are repositioned for proteolysis. IDE is known to transition between a closed state, poised for catalysis, and an open state, able to release cleavage products and bind new substrate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is involved in feeding, reward, aversion, and anxiety-like behavior. We identify BNST neurons defined by the expression of vesicular glutamate transporter 3, VGluT3. VGluT3 neurons were localized to anteromedial BNST, were molecularly distinct from accumbal VGluT3 neurons, and co-express vesicular GABA transporter (VGaT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis a common, waterborne gastrointestinal parasite that causes diarrheal disease worldwide. Currently there are no effective therapeutics to treat cryptosporidiosis in at-risk populations. Since natural products are a known source of anti-parasitic compounds, we screened a library of extracts and pure natural product compounds isolated from bacteria and fungi collected from subterranean environments for activity against .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!