Alteration of nociceptive integration in the spinal cord of a rat model of Parkinson’s disease

Keri-Ann Charles, Frédéric Naudet, Rabia Bouali-Benazzouz, Marc Landry, Philippe De Deurwaerdère, Pascal Fossat, Abdelhamid Benazzouz
Mov Disord.. 2018-05-18; 33(6): 1010-1015
DOI: 10.1002/mds.27377

PubMed
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BACKGROUND: Pain is a major non motor symptom that contributes to impaired quality of life in PD. However, its mechanism is unknown.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We sought to identify the pain phenotypes and parallel changes in spinal integration of peripheral stimuli in a rat model of PD induced by lesions of SN dopamine neurons, using behavioral plantar and von Frey tests as well as electrophysiology of the dorsal horn.

RESULTS: We show that dopamine depletion by 6-OHDA induced hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli. These abnormal behaviors were paralleled by increased neuronal responses and hyperexcitability of wide dynamic range neurons of lamina V of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in response to electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in the 6-OHDA model as compared to sham rats.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence for alteration of nociceptive integration in the spinal dorsal horn neurons in 6-OHDA rats that can reflect changes in pain behavior. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

 

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