Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
07:09

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Published on: July 16, 2014

Induction of the P2X7 receptor in spinal microglia in a neuropathic pain model

Kimiko Kobayashi1, Emiko Takahashi, Yasuko Miyagawa

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.

Neuroscience Letters
|September 20, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular ATP and P2X7 receptors in spinal microglia contribute to neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury. Blocking P2X7 receptors reduced pain hypersensitivity, highlighting their role in pain development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pain Research
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Peripheral nerve injury induces changes in spinal microglia.
  • Extracellular ATP is implicated in microglial proliferation and neuropathic pain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of P2X7 receptors in the spinal cord after peripheral nerve injury.
  • To determine the role of P2X7 receptors in the development of neuropathic pain.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed P2X7 mRNA and protein expression in the spinal cord post-injury using molecular techniques.
  • Utilized double labeling to identify cell types expressing P2X7.
  • Administered a P2X7 antagonist (A 438079 hydrochloride) intrathecally.
  • Evaluated the effect of antagonist on mechanical hypersensitivity.

Main Results:

  • P2X7 mRNA and protein levels significantly increased in the spinal cord, peaking at 7 days post-injury.
  • Upregulated P2X7 was predominantly found in microglia within the dorsal horn.
  • Intrathecal administration of the P2X7 antagonist suppressed the development of mechanical hypersensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • Increased P2X7 receptor expression in spinal microglia is a key feature following peripheral nerve injury.
  • P2X7 receptors in spinal microglia play a significant role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.

More Related Videos

Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies08:16

Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies

Published on: October 6, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...