OBJECTIVES To determine the differences in pupillary light reflex (PLR) between the acute and chronic phases of optic neuritis (ON) and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). METHODS The study included 30 patients with ON and 22 patients with NAION whose PLR were measured by a dynamic pupillometer (PLR-200; NeurOptics Inc., Irvine, USA). Age-matched controls included 58 heal...

We examined mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta in the brainstem, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex in two rat models of neuropathic pain. Rats received a neuropathic injury: spared nerve injury (SNI) or chronic constriction injury (CCI), sham injury, or were minimally handled (control). Neuropathic pain-like behavior was monitored by tracking tactile thresholds. SNI-injured...

Despite mu opioid receptor agonists are the cornerstones of moderate-to-severe acute pain treatment, their effectiveness in chronic pain conditions is controversial. In contrast to mu opioid receptor agonists, a number of studies have reported the effectiveness of delta opioid receptor agonists on neuropathic pain strengthening the idea that delta opioid receptors gain importance when chronic p...

BACKGROUND Spontaneous (non-evoked) pain is a major clinical symptom of neuropathic syndromes, one that is understudied in basic pain research for practical reasons and because of a lack of consensus over precisely which behaviors reflect spontaneous pain in laboratory animals. It is commonly asserted that rodents experiencing pain in a hind limb exhibit hypolocomotion and decreased rearing, en...

Although calcitonin gene-related peptide is a recognized pain transducer, the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in primary afferents may be differentially affected following different types of nerve injury. Here, we examined whether different calcitonin gene-related peptide expression patterns in primary afferents contributes to distinct sensory disturbances in three animal models o...

There is no effective treatment for peripheral nerve injury-induced chronic neuropathic pain (NP), which profoundly impacts the quality of life those affected. Transmembraneprotein100 (TMEM100) considered to be a regulatory protein and expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) rats. However, mechanism regulation expression TMEM100 following various injuries are unclear. In this study, we construc...

Introduction: Glial activation and secretion of cytokines at the spinal level is known as part of chronic pain pathogenesis. Although changes in TNFα at the supraspinal level are reported during chronic pain, its exact role and site of action remain to be elucidated. We investigated the effect of microinfusion of TNFα into the LC in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods: Male Wistar rats...

BACKGROUND Kinins (e.g., bradykinin) acting through the constitutively expressed B2 and the injury-induced B1 receptors are involved in pain and hyperalgesia, as previously shown by use of receptor-selective antagonists and single-receptor knockout models. Because the overall contribution of kinins to painful processes remains unclear, the aim of this study was to analyze pain-related behaviors...