Paraventricular Nucleus-central Amygdala Oxytocinergic Projection Modulates Pain-related Anxiety-like Behaviors in Mice

Overview

Journal CNS Neurosci Ther

Specialties Neurology
Pharmacology

Date 2023 May 30

PMID 37248645

Authors

Yu-Jie Li

Wei-Jia Du

Rui Liu

Gui-Ying Zan

Bing-Lu Ye

Qian Li

Zhi-Hao Sheng

Ya-Wei Yuan

Yu-Jie Song

Jing-Gen Liu

Zhi-Qiang Liu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aims: Anxiety disorders associated with pain are a common health problem. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the role of paraventricular nucleus (PVN)-central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) oxytocinergic projections in anxiety-like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.

Methods: After inflammatory pain induction by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), mice underwent elevated plus maze, light-dark transition test, and marble burying test to examine the anxiety-like behaviors. Chemogenetic, optogenetic, and fiber photometry recordings were used to modulate and record the activity of the oxytocinergic projections of the PVN-CeA.

Results: The key results are as follows: inflammatory pain-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice accompanied by decreased activity of PVN oxytocin neurons. Chemogenetic activation of PVN oxytocin neurons prevented pain-related anxiety-like behaviors, whereas inhibition of PVN oxytocin neurons induced anxiety-like behaviors in naïve mice. PVN oxytocin neurons projected directly to the CeA, and microinjection of oxytocin into the CeA blocked anxiety-like behaviors. Inflammatory pain also decreased the activity of CeA neurons, and optogenetic activation of PVN -CeA circuit prevented anxiety-like behavior in response to inflammatory pain.

Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that oxytocin has anti-anxiety effects and provide novel insights into the role of PVN -CeA projections in the regulation of anxiety-like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.

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