THE ROLE OF THE CENTRAL NUCLEUS OF THE AMYGDALA IN PAIN

杏仁核中央核在疼痛中的作用

• 批准号: 3424004
• 负责人: James William Grau
• 金额: $ 1.61万
• 依托单位: UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1987
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1987-01-01 至 1987-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3424004
• 关键词: analgesia; analgesics; brain stem; cerebellar cortex; histology; memory; neurophysiology; opiate alkaloid; pain; psychological reinforcement; vocalization

Prior work has shown that pain can be modulated by low-level analgesic systems in the brainstem. These systems can be activated by exposure to aversive stimuli. With mild aversive stimuli the activation of these systems depends on forebrain structures. One purpose of the present research program is to elucidate the forebrain structures involved. A second purpose is to investigate the manner by which opiate analgesics, such as morphine, alter the experience of pain. Presumably opiates induce analgesia by interacting with one of the neural systems rich in opioid receptors. It remains unclear, however, what systems are involved. The experiments we propose will evaluate the role of one forebrain structure, the central nucleus of the amygdala. This nucleus is of particular interest since it is rich in opioids and opioid receptors. In addition, it is connected with the systems in the brainstem which mediate analgesia. We will evaluate the role of the central nucleus in pain by assessing how manipulations of this region in rats alter pain reactivity as measured by the tail-flick test and shock induced vocalization. We will also assess the impact of manipulations of this nucleus on the activation of the analgesic systems in the brainstem. In order to assess the contribution of the central nucleus we will evaluate the impact of bilateral lesions of the nucleus. The role of opioids in this nucleus will be investigated by microinjecting opiate agonists and antagonists directly onto the central nucleus. The present experiments will clarify whether manipulations of the central nucleus, and opioids in this region, alter pain reactivity. This work will elucidate whether opiate analgesics alter pain, in part, by interacting with opioid receptors in the central nucleus. The experiments will also elucidate whether the central nucleus plays a role in activating the analgesic systems in the brainstem. In addition, to clarifying the manner by which opiate analgesics alter pain, this work will clarify the functional role of the central nucleus. This is of major importance since this nucleus has been implicated as critical to learning and memory. Much of the evidence for this conclusion has been obtained with aversively motivated tasks. The present experiments will reveal whether manipulations of the central nucleus alter learning and memory by changing the affective impact of the aversive reinforcer.

先前的工作表明，疼痛可以通过低级镇痛作用来调节 脑干中的系统。 这些系统可以通过暴露来激活 厌恶刺激。 用轻度的厌恶刺激激活这些激活 系统取决于前脑结构。 现在的目的 研究计划是为了阐明所涉及的前脑结构。 一个 第二目的是研究阿片类镇痛药的方式， 例如吗啡，改变疼痛的经历。 大概是阿片类药物诱导 通过与富含阿片类药物的神经系统之一相互作用来镇痛 受体。 但是，尚不清楚涉及哪些系统。 我们提出的实验将评估一个前脑的作用 结构，杏仁核的中央核。 这个核是 特别感兴趣，因为它富含阿片类药物和阿片受体。 在 此外，它与脑干中的系统相关 镇痛。 我们将评估中央核在疼痛中的作用 评估该区域在大鼠中的操纵如何改变疼痛反应性 通过尾部轻击测试和冲击引起的发声来衡量。 我们将 还评估该核对激活的操作的影响 脑干中的镇痛系统。 为了评估 中央核的贡献我们将评估 核的双侧病变。 阿片类药物在该核中的作用将 可以直接通过微注射鸦片激动剂和拮抗剂进行研究 到中央核。 目前的实验将阐明中央的操纵是否 核和该区域的阿片类药物改变了疼痛反应性。 这项工作将 阐明阿片类镇痛药是否部分通过相互作用改变了疼痛 中央核中的阿片受体。 实验也将 阐明中央核是否在激活 脑干中的镇痛系统。 此外，要澄清方式 阿片类镇痛药改变疼痛，这项工作将阐明 中央核的功能作用。 这是至关重要的，因为 该核被认为对学习和记忆至关重要。 很多 这一结论的证据是通过厌恶的 积极的任务。 目前的实验将揭示是否操纵 中央核通过改变情感来改变学习和记忆 厌恶增强器的影响。