1. Synaptic control of spinal GRPR
- Author
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Ming-Zhe, Liu, Xiao-Jun, Chen, Tong-Yu, Liang, Qing, Li, Meng, Wang, Xin-Yan, Zhang, Yu-Zhuo, Li, Qiang, Sun, and Yan-Gang, Sun
- Subjects
nervous system ,Biological Sciences - Abstract
Spinal gastrin-releasing peptide receptor-expressing (GRPR(+)) neurons play an essential role in itch signal processing. However, the circuit mechanisms underlying the modulation of spinal GRPR(+) neurons by direct local and long-range inhibitory inputs remain elusive. Using viral tracing and electrophysiological approaches, we dissected the neural circuits underlying the inhibitory control of spinal GRPR(+) neurons. We found that spinal galanin(+) GABAergic neurons form inhibitory synapses with GRPR(+) neurons in the spinal cord and play an important role in gating the GRPR(+) neuron-dependent itch signaling pathway. Spinal GRPR(+) neurons also receive inhibitory inputs from local neurons expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Moreover, spinal GRPR(+) neurons are gated by strong inhibitory inputs from the rostral ventromedial medulla. Thus, both local and long-range inhibitory inputs could play important roles in gating itch processing in the spinal cord by directly modulating the activity of spinal GRPR(+) neurons. more...
- Published
- 2019