Facilitation of synaptic transmission in the anterior cingulate cortex in viscerally hypersensitive rats

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Jun Wang
  • Xu Zhang
  • Bing Cao
  • Jin Liu
  • Ying Li

Related Research Unit(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)859-868
Journal / PublicationCerebral Cortex
Volume25
Issue number4
Online published9 Oct 2013
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2015

Link(s)

Abstract

Electrophysiological studies have shown the enhanced response of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to colorectal distension in viscerally hypersensitive (VH) rats, which can be observed up to 7 weeks following colonic anaphylaxis, independent of colon inflammation, suggesting a mechanism for learning and triggering of pain memories in the ACC neuronal circuitry. Activity-dependent plasticity in synaptic strength may serve as a key mechanism that reflects cortical plasticity. However, only a few reports have indicated the synaptic plasticity of ACC in vivo. In the present study, electrophysiological recording showed long-lasting potentiation of local field potential in the medial thalamus (MT)-ACC synapses in VH rats. Theta burst stimulation in the MT reliably induced long-term potentiation in the MT-ACC pathway in normal rats, but was occluded in the VH state. Further, repeated tetanization of MT increased ACC neuronal activity and visceral pain responses of normal rats, mimicking VH rats. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that visceral hypersensitivity is associated with alterations of synaptic plasticity in the ACC. The ACC synaptic strengthening in chronic visceral pain may engage signal transduction pathways that are in common with those activated by electrical stimulation, and serves as an attractive cellular model of functional visceral pain.

Research Area(s)

  • anterior cingulate cortex, basal synaptic transmission, long-term potentiation, medial thalamus, visceral hypersensitivity

Citation Format(s)

Facilitation of synaptic transmission in the anterior cingulate cortex in viscerally hypersensitive rats. / Wang, Jun; Zhang, Xu; Cao, Bing et al.
In: Cerebral Cortex, Vol. 25, No. 4, 04.2015, p. 859-868.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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