Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although neuroimaging techniques have provided insights into the function of brain regions involved in Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain (TNP) in humans, there is little understanding of the molecular mechanisms affected during the course...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2012-09-01
|
| Series: | Molecular Pain |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.molecularpain.com/content/8/1/74 |
| _version_ | 1828291438479147008 |
|---|---|
| author | DosSantos Marcos Martikainen Ilkka Nascimento Thiago Love Tiffany M Deboer Misty Maslowski Eric C Monteiro André Vincent Maurice Zubieta Jon-Kar DaSilva Alexandre F |
| author_facet | DosSantos Marcos Martikainen Ilkka Nascimento Thiago Love Tiffany M Deboer Misty Maslowski Eric C Monteiro André Vincent Maurice Zubieta Jon-Kar DaSilva Alexandre F |
| author_sort | DosSantos Marcos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although neuroimaging techniques have provided insights into the function of brain regions involved in Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain (TNP) in humans, there is little understanding of the molecular mechanisms affected during the course of this disorder. Understanding these processes is crucial to determine the systems involved in the development and persistence of TNP.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In this study, we examined the regional μ-opioid receptor (μOR) availability <it>in vivo</it> (non-displaceable binding potential BP<sub>ND</sub>) of TNP patients with positron emission tomography (PET) using the μOR selective radioligand [<sup>11</sup>C]carfentanil. Four TNP patients and eight gender and age-matched healthy controls were examined with PET. Patients with TNP showed reduced μOR BP<sub>ND</sub> in the left nucleus accumbens (NAc), an area known to be involved in pain modulation and reward/aversive behaviors. In addition, the μOR BP<sub>ND</sub> in the NAc was negatively correlated with the McGill sensory and total pain ratings in the TNP patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings give preliminary evidence that the clinical pain in TNP patients can be related to alterations in the endogenous μ-opioid system, rather than only to the peripheral pathology. The decreased availability of μORs found in TNP patients, and its inverse relationship to clinical pain levels, provide insights into the central mechanisms related to this condition. The results also expand our understanding about the impact of chronic pain on the limbic system.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:52:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd20ef1cf7b04c008782b47734f48bac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-8069 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:52:56Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Pain |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd20ef1cf7b04c008782b47734f48bac2022-12-22T02:49:37ZengSAGE PublishingMolecular Pain1744-80692012-09-01817410.1186/1744-8069-8-74Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot studyDosSantos MarcosMartikainen IlkkaNascimento ThiagoLove Tiffany MDeboer MistyMaslowski Eric CMonteiro AndréVincent MauriceZubieta Jon-KarDaSilva Alexandre F<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although neuroimaging techniques have provided insights into the function of brain regions involved in Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain (TNP) in humans, there is little understanding of the molecular mechanisms affected during the course of this disorder. Understanding these processes is crucial to determine the systems involved in the development and persistence of TNP.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In this study, we examined the regional μ-opioid receptor (μOR) availability <it>in vivo</it> (non-displaceable binding potential BP<sub>ND</sub>) of TNP patients with positron emission tomography (PET) using the μOR selective radioligand [<sup>11</sup>C]carfentanil. Four TNP patients and eight gender and age-matched healthy controls were examined with PET. Patients with TNP showed reduced μOR BP<sub>ND</sub> in the left nucleus accumbens (NAc), an area known to be involved in pain modulation and reward/aversive behaviors. In addition, the μOR BP<sub>ND</sub> in the NAc was negatively correlated with the McGill sensory and total pain ratings in the TNP patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings give preliminary evidence that the clinical pain in TNP patients can be related to alterations in the endogenous μ-opioid system, rather than only to the peripheral pathology. The decreased availability of μORs found in TNP patients, and its inverse relationship to clinical pain levels, provide insights into the central mechanisms related to this condition. The results also expand our understanding about the impact of chronic pain on the limbic system.</p>http://www.molecularpain.com/content/8/1/74Trigeminal Neuropathic PainOpioid systemNeuroplasticityChronic painPositron emission tomography |
| spellingShingle | DosSantos Marcos Martikainen Ilkka Nascimento Thiago Love Tiffany M Deboer Misty Maslowski Eric C Monteiro André Vincent Maurice Zubieta Jon-Kar DaSilva Alexandre F Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study Molecular Pain Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain Opioid system Neuroplasticity Chronic pain Positron emission tomography |
| title | Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study |
| title_full | Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study |
| title_short | Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study |
| title_sort | reduced basal ganglia μ opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain a pilot study |
| topic | Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain Opioid system Neuroplasticity Chronic pain Positron emission tomography |
| url | http://www.molecularpain.com/content/8/1/74 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dossantosmarcos reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT martikainenilkka reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT nascimentothiago reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT lovetiffanym reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT deboermisty reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT maslowskiericc reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT monteiroandre reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT vincentmaurice reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT zubietajonkar reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy AT dasilvaalexandref reducedbasalgangliamopioidreceptoravailabilityintrigeminalneuropathicpainapilotstudy |