title: Additional evidence for the involvement of the basal ganglia in formalin-induced nociception: the role of the nucleus accumbens.
abstract: Identification of the brain areas that contribute to pain is an essential undertaking towards understanding persistent pain. Areas of the basal ganglia have been proposed to play important roles in nociception as previous studies have determined the involvement of the substantia nigra pars compacta and the dorsolateral striatum in pain. The purpose of the present study was therefore to expand upon these findings by determining the involvement of other areas of the basal ganglia such as the nucleus accumbens shell and core in formalin-induced nociception. It was found that injection of a local anaesthetic (bupivacaine) into the nucleus accumbens shell had no effect on formalin-induced nociception. However, injection into the nucleus accumbens core enhanced formalin-induced nociception. These results implicate the nucleus accumbens in the processing of pain and provide additional evidence for the involvement of the basal ganglia and possibly dopamine in pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Foothills Hospital, 1403 29th Street NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 2T9. jane.magnusson@calgaryhealthregion.ca
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: Roxanne V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004298:Dopamine; D002045:Bupivacaine