Involvement of microglia and astroglia in modulation of the orofacial motor functions in rats with neuropathic pain

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2016
Source:Journal of Oral Biosciences
Author(s): Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Masamichi Shinoda, Shumpei Unno, Hiroshi Ando, Yuji Masuda, Koichi Iwata, Junichi Kitagawa
BackgroundOrofacial motor functions have been reported to be altered under neuropathic pain conditions. Recently, microglia and astroglia of the central nervous system have been implicated in the initiation and maintenance of orofacial pain.HighlightsIn this review, we focus on the involvement of microglia and astroglia in the modulation of orofacial motor activity during neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury, findings that we have recently demonstrated in our research. Activation of microglia and astroglia modulated orofacial nocifensive behavior and motor functions following trigeminal nerve injury. Minocycline, a microglial blocker, attenuated nocifensive behavior as well as activated microglia and restored masticatory functions. Astroglial activation, nocifensive behavior, and altered jaw opening reflex after nerve injury were reversed by application of methionine sulfoximine, a blocker of glutamine synthetase involved in synthesis of glutamine, a precursor of glutamate, suggesting involvement of astroglial glutamate-glutamine shuttle in neuropathic pain conditions.ConclusionThe results observed in our studies suggest the involvement of microglia and astroglia in the alteration of orofacial motor activity during neuropathic pain.



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