Melanocortin-4 Receptor Expression in the Cuneiform Nucleus Is Involved in Modulation of Opioidergic Signaling  

作　　者：宋咏堂 刘涛涛 冯丽 张涛 项红兵 

机构地区：[1]Medical Association of Hubei Province [2]Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine,Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology

出　　处：《Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology(Medical Sciences)》2015年第5期662-665,共4页华中科技大学学报（医学英德文版）

基　　金：supported by a grant from Health and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province(No.WJ2015MB008)

摘　　要：Substantial evidence has suggested that deep brain stimulation of the cuneiform nucleus has become a remarkable treatment option for intractable pain,but the possible mechanism is poorly understood. Using a melanocortin-4 receptor（MC4R）-green fluorescent protein（GFP） reporter knockin mouse,we showed that a large number of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons were expressed in the cuneiform nucleus. Immunofluorescence revealed that approximately 40%–50% of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons expressed mu opioid receptors,indicating that they were opioidergic signaling. Our findings support the hypothesis that MC4 R expression in the cuneiform nucleus is involved in the modulation of opioidergic signaling.Substantial evidence has suggested that deep brain stimulation of the cuneiform nucleus has become a remarkable treatment option for intractable pain,but the possible mechanism is poorly understood. Using a melanocortin-4 receptor（MC4R）-green fluorescent protein（GFP） reporter knockin mouse,we showed that a large number of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons were expressed in the cuneiform nucleus. Immunofluorescence revealed that approximately 40%–50% of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons expressed mu opioid receptors,indicating that they were opioidergic signaling. Our findings support the hypothesis that MC4 R expression in the cuneiform nucleus is involved in the modulation of opioidergic signaling.

关 键 词：intractable understood stimulation poorly opioid nucleus signaling labeled Nucleus triple 

分 类 号：R741[医药卫生—神经病学与精神病学]