Abstract
The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is involved in processing and regulation
of pain. We determined whether amygdaloid corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) contributes
to pain modulation in the neuropathic rat. Emotional aspect of pain was assessed by
an aversive place-conditioning test and sensory aspect of pain by determining monofilament-induced
limb-withdrawal threshold. CRF6-33 (an inhibitor of CRF-binding protein) or CRF9-41, a nonselective CRF receptor antagonist, was microinjected to the left or right CeA
or a control site in rats with spared nerve injury (SNI) or sham operation of the
left hind limb. In SNI animals, CRF6-33 in the left or right CeA, but not in a control site, attenuated emotional painlike
behavior and increased sensory pain. In sham controls, CRF6-33 in the right but not left CeA increased sensory aspect of pain, without influence
on place-avoidance behavior. The effects induced by CRF6-33 were reversed by CRF9-41. The results indicate that endogenous CRF in the CeA, through action on CRF receptors,
may differentially influence emotional and sensory aspects of pain in neuropathy.
While the right CeA had a dominant role in modulation of pain-related responses in
sham controls, left as well as right CeA contributed to pain modulation in neuropathic
animals.
Perspective
An increase in free endogenous corticotropin-releasing factor in the central nucleus
of the amygdala was accompanied by increased cutaneous hypersensitivity and decreased
emotional painlike behavior in neuropathic animals. This finding indicates that CRF
in the amygdala may have differential effects on sensory and emotional aspects of
neuropathic pain.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 12, 2010
Accepted:
May 18,
2010
Received in revised form:
May 18,
2010
Received:
June 16,
2009
Footnotes
Supported by grants from the Academy of Finland and the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Helsinki, Finland. NB was supported in part by the European Union Erasmus Programme and the Center for International Mobility (CIMO), Helsinki, Finland.
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
