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Nasal respiration modulates pain perception via the olfactory Bulb-Anterior cingulate cortex circuit
Ruixue Cheng1, Yuxue Wang2, Chunyan Dou3
1Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China.
Iscience
|November 17, 2025
Summary
Nasal breathing influences pain perception by altering neural rhythms between the olfactory bulb and anterior cingulate cortex. This study reveals how manipulating this pathway offers potential for neuropathic pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Breath regulation is known to modulate pain and anxiety, but neural pathways remain elusive.
- Neuropathic pain affects millions globally, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the neural mechanisms linking nasal breathing to pain modulation.
- To investigate the role of the olfactory bulb-anterior cingulate cortex pathway in neuropathic pain.
Main Methods:
- Nasal respiratory sensory deprivation using Triton X-100 in a mouse model.
- Optogenetics, *in vivo* fiber photometry, viral tracing, and immunofluorescence staining.
- Chemogenetics to manipulate specific neuronal pathways (OB-ACCGlu and OBGABA).
Main Results:
- Nasal sensory deprivation reduced respiration-entrained rhythm (RR) from the olfactory bulb (OB) to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
- This sensory deprivation activated OB GABAergic projections to the ACC, inhibiting ACC glutamatergic neurons.
- Modulating the OB-ACCGlu pathway or OBGABA neurons directly impacted neuropathic pain levels.
Conclusions:
- Nasal breathing influences pain via the OB-ACC pathway, involving GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling.
- Targeting the OB-ACC neural circuit presents a potential therapeutic avenue for neuropathic pain management.
- Findings offer novel insights into non-pharmacological pain relief strategies through respiratory control.
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