| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 動物學研究所 === 101 === Neuropathic pain is an intractable disease in daily life and clinical research. It can
result in long-term changes in central nervous system. Insular cortex is a brain region
participated in processing of different sensory modalities. Evidences have also shown
that posterior insular cortex may be related to somatosensory perception especially in
nociception. However, the role for how PIC contributes to the initiation or maintenance
of neuropathic pain is less understood. In the present study, permanent lesion by NMDA
excitotoxicity in PIC was used to assess the response to pain. Results showed that after
PIC lesion in neuropathic rats, the mechanical threshold recovered gradually. The
spontaneous paw lifting showed no improve, and withdrawal response to cold were
transiently diminished. PIC pre-lesion resulted in less decreased mechanical threshold,
and transient decrement of spontaneous paw lifting. However, there were faster
development of cold allodynia. Tracer study revealed that PIC had a strong connection
to posterior triangular thalamic nucleus and periaqueductal gray. These data suggested
the partial role of PIC to maintain mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain. Moreover,
spontaneous pain, mechanical allodynia and cold allodynia of neuropathic pain might be
differentially processed in the forebrain.
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