Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
08:39
Ex Vivo Release of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide from the Trigeminovascular System in Rodents
Published on: May 16, 2022
3.1K
PPARγ Agonists Attenuate Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain
Danielle N Lyons1, Liping Zhang, Robert J Danaher
1Departments of *Physiology, College of Medicine †Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
The Clinical Journal of Pain
|May 18, 2017
Summary
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) activation reduces trigeminal neuropathic pain. This nuclear receptor plays a key role in pain transmission, offering a potential therapeutic target for orofacial pain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Trigeminal neuropathic pain is a debilitating condition.
- The role of nuclear receptors in pain pathways is an area of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) in trigeminal neuropathic pain.
- To utilize a novel mouse trigeminal inflammatory compression (TIC) injury model to study pain mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Localized PPARγ immunoreactivity in the spinal trigeminal nucleus following TIC injury.
- Administered PPARγ agonist pioglitazone (PIO) and antagonist GW9662 in a mouse model.
- Assessed mechanical allodynia to evaluate pain response.
Main Results:
- PPARγ immunoreactivity increased in the spinal trigeminal caudalis 3 weeks post-TIC injury.
- Systemic PIO administration attenuated mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent manner.
- GW9662 blocked the analgesic effects of PIO, confirming PPARγ's role.
Conclusions:
- PPARγ plays a significant role in trigeminal nociception transmission.
- Activation of PPARγ attenuates hypersensitivity in a mouse model of trigeminal neuropathic pain.
- Pioglitazone, an FDA-approved drug, may serve as a therapeutic agent for orofacial pain by targeting PPARγ.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
2.4K
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...
2.4K
01:25Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist
4.3K
Agonists are drugs that interact with specific receptors in the body to produce a biological response. When an agonist binds to a receptor, it activates or enhances the receptor's function, leading to physiological effects. The interaction between agonist drugs and receptors is crucial for their therapeutic action in various medical treatments.
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous...
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous...
4.3K
01:28Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
691
Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy. SP binds and activates...
691
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
3.0K
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
3.0K
01:09GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
7.8K
Some GPCRs transmit signals through adenylyl cyclase (AC), a transmembrane enzyme. AC helps synthesize second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). AC catalyzes cyclization reaction and converts ATP to cAMP by releasing a pyrophosphate. The pyrophosphate is further hydrolyzed to phosphate by the enzyme pyrophosphatase, which drives cAMP synthesis to completion. However, cAMP is rapidly degraded to 5′ AMP by the enzymes phosphodiesterase (PDE), preventing overstimulation of...
7.8K
01:28Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers
1.8K
Ganglionic blockers inhibit autonomic activity by blocking nicotinic receptors in the autonomic ganglia, suppressing impulse transmission. These blockers lack selectivity between sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia and are ineffective as neuromuscular junction antagonists. They can be categorized into two groups:
1.8K