RGD Reference Report - NMDA NR2A and NR2B receptors in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex contribute to pain-related aversion in male rats. - Rat Genome Database

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NMDA NR2A and NR2B receptors in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex contribute to pain-related aversion in male rats.

Authors: Li, TT  Ren, WH  Xiao, X  Nan, J  Cheng, LZ  Zhang, XH  Zhao, ZQ  Zhang, YQ 
Citation: Li TT, etal., Pain. 2009 Nov;146(1-2):183-93. Epub 2009 Aug 19.
RGD ID: 2325956
Pubmed: PMID:19695778   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC2764121   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.1016/j.pain.2009.07.027   (Journal Full-text)

NMDA receptors, which are implicated in pain processing, are highly expressed in forebrain areas including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The ACC has been implicated in the affective response to noxious stimuli. Using a combination of immunohistochemical staining, Western blot, electrophysiological recording and formalin-induced conditioned place avoidance (F-CPA) rat behavioral model that directly reflects the affective component of pain, the present study examined formalin nociceptive conditioning-induced changes in the expressions of NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in the rostral ACC (rACC) and its possible functional significance. We found that unilateral intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of dilute formalin with or without contextual conditioning exposure markedly increased the expressions of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B but not of NR1 in the bilateral rACC. NMDA-evoked currents in rACC neurons were significantly greater in formalin-injected rats than in naive or normal saline-injected rats. Selectively blocking either NR2A or NR2B subunit in the rACC abolished the acquisition of F-CPA and formalin nociceptive conditioning-induced Fos expression, but it did not affect formalin acute nociceptive behaviors and non-nociceptive fear stimulus-induced CPA. These results suggest that both NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in the rACC are critically involved in pain-related aversion. Thus, a new strategy targeted at NMDA NR2A or NR2B subunit might be raised for the prevention of pain-related emotional disturbance.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
response to carbohydrate  IEP 2325956; 2325956formalinRGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Grin2a  (glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2A)
Grin2b  (glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B)


Additional Information