Melanocortin-4 receptor expression in the cuneiform nucleus is involved in modulation of opioidergic signaling.
Substantial evidence has suggested that deep brain stimulation of the cuneiform nucleus has become a remarkable treatment option for intractable pain, but the possible mechanism is poorly understood. Using a melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter knockin mouse, we showed that a large number of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons were expressed in the cuneiform nucleus. Immunofluorescence revealed that approximately 40%-50% of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons expressed mu opioid receptors, indicating that they were opioidergic signaling. Our findings support the hypothesis that MC4R expression in the cuneiform nucleus is involved in the modulation of opioidergic signaling.
Medical Association of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430060, China.
Yong-Tang
YT
Song
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Tao-Tao
TT
Liu
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Li
L
Feng
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. zhangtao19611@163.com.
Tao
T
Zhang
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Hong-Bing
HB
Xiang
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008867:Microtomy; D066265:Midbrain Reticular Formation / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
C574273:MC4R protein, mouse; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
cuneiform nucleus; melanocortin-4 receptor; mu opioid receptor; opioidergic signaling