Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) stimulation produces significant improvement of overall pain related to Parkinson disease; however, the mechanisms underlying analgesic effects of STN-DBS are still unknown. This report describes direct neuroanatomical evidence for the central melanocortinergic-opioidergic circuits in the STN. We investigated melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and mu-opioid receptor (MOR)-positive expression of the STN in MC4R-GFP transgenic mice using fluorescence immunohistochemical detection. Immunohistochemistry showed a large number of MC4R-GFP- and MOR-positive neurons within the STN region, and approximately 50% of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons coexpressed MOR. The results of this study showed direct neuroanatomical evidence for the central melanocortinergic-opioidergic signaling in the STN region. These findings contribute to the view of melanocortinergic-opioidergic circuits in the subthalamic nucleus as a reliable source of modulating of nociception with therapeutic potential for alleviating pain.
第一作者单位:[1]Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Anesthesiol & Pain Med, Tongji Hosp, Tongji Med Coll, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, Peoples R China
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推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Han Dong-Ji,He Zhi-Gang,Yang Hui.Melanocortin-4 receptor in subthalamic nucleus is involved in the modulation of nociception[J].AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY.2018,7(4):76-80.
APA:
Han, Dong-Ji,He, Zhi-Gang&Yang, Hui.(2018).Melanocortin-4 receptor in subthalamic nucleus is involved in the modulation of nociception.AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY,7,(4)
MLA:
Han, Dong-Ji,et al."Melanocortin-4 receptor in subthalamic nucleus is involved in the modulation of nociception".AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY 7..4(2018):76-80