Torres-Reverón Annelyn, Palermo Karylane, Hernández-López Anixa, Hernández Siomara, Cruz Myrella L, Thompson Kenira J, Flores Idhaliz, Appleyard Caroline B
Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA Department of Clinical Psychology, Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR, USA
Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
Reprod Sci. 2016 Sep;23(9):1158-67. doi: 10.1177/1933719116630410. Epub 2016 Apr 18.
Studies have examined how endometriosis interacts with the nervous system, but little attention has been paid to opioidergic systems, which are relevant to pain signaling. We used the autotransplantation rat model of endometriosis and allowed to progress for 60 days. The brain was collected and examined for changes in endogenous opioid peptides, mu opioid receptors (MORs), and the N-methyl-d-aspartate subunit receptor (NR1) in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), since both of these receptors can regulate PAG activity. No changes in endogenous opioid peptides in met- and leu-enkephalin or β-endorphin levels were observed within the PAG. However, MOR immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the ventral PAG in the endometriosis group. Endometriosis reduced by 20% the number of neuronal profiles expressing MOR and reduced by 40% the NR1 profiles. Our results suggest that endometriosis is associated with subtle variations in opioidergic and glutamatergic activity within the PAG, which may have implications for pain processing.
已有研究探讨了子宫内膜异位症与神经系统的相互作用，但对与疼痛信号传导相关的阿片肽系统关注甚少。我们采用子宫内膜异位症自体移植大鼠模型，并使其发展60天。收集大鼠大脑，检测中脑导水管周围灰质（PAG）中内源性阿片肽、μ阿片受体（MORs）和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸亚基受体（NR1）的变化，因为这两种受体均可调节PAG的活动。在PAG内未观察到甲硫氨酸脑啡肽、亮氨酸脑啡肽或β-内啡肽水平的内源性阿片肽变化。然而，子宫内膜异位症组腹侧PAG中的MOR免疫反应性显著降低。子宫内膜异位症使表达MOR的神经元轮廓数量减少了20%，使NR1轮廓减少了40%。我们的结果表明，子宫内膜异位症与PAG内阿片肽能和谷氨酸能活动的细微变化有关，这可能对疼痛处理有影响。
