小柯机器人

近日，美国霍华德休斯医学研究所David D. Ginty及其研究组揭示感知触摸和疼痛的脊髓通路。相关论文于2020年10月28日在线发表于国际学术期刊《自然》。

Title: Parallel ascending spinal pathways for affective touch and pain

Author: Seungwon Choi, Junichi Hachisuka, Matthew A. Brett, Alexandra R. Magee, Yu Omori, Noor-ul-Aine Iqbal, Dawei Zhang, Michelle M. DeLisle, Rachel L. Wolfson, Ling Bai, Celine Santiago, Shiaoching Gong, Martyn Goulding, Nathaniel Heintz, H. Richard Koerber, Sarah E. Ross, David D. Ginty

Issue&Volume: 2020-10-28

Abstract: The anterolateral pathway consists of ascending spinal tracts that convey pain, temperature and touch information from the spinal cord to the brain1–4. Projection neurons of the anterolateral pathway are attractive therapeutic targets for pain treatment because nociceptive signals emanating from the periphery are channelled through these spinal projection neurons en route to the brain. However, the organizational logic of the anterolateral pathway remains poorly understood. Here we show that two populations of projection neurons that express the structurally related G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) TACR1 and GPR83 form parallel ascending circuit modules that cooperate to convey thermal, tactile and noxious cutaneous signals from the spinal cord to the lateral parabrachial nucleus of the pons. Within this nucleus, axons of spinoparabrachial (SPB) neurons that express Tacr1 or Gpr83 innervate distinct sets of subnuclei, and strong optogenetic stimulation of the axon terminals induces distinct escape behaviours and autonomic responses. Moreover, SPB neurons that  express Gpr83 are highly sensitive to cutaneous mechanical stimuli and receive strong synaptic inputs from both high- and low-threshold primary mechanosensory neurons. Notably, the valence associated with activation of SPB neurons that express Gpr83 can be either positive or negative, depending on stimulus intensity. These findings reveal anatomically, physiologically and functionally distinct subdivisions of the SPB tract that underlie affective aspects of touch and pain. Two populations of neurons with distinct anatomy and receptor expression that convey information from the spinal cord to the brain have different functional properties with respect to touch and pain.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2860-1

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2860-1

Nature：《自然》，创刊于1869年。隶属于施普林格·自然出版集团，最新IF：69.504
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