Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland..
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 Oct;105:200-211. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.007. Epub 2019 Aug 14.
Chronic pain and anxiety can be debilitating disorders and are often comorbid. There is significant overlap in the neural circuitry of pain and anxiety. Current treatments for these disorders are often ineffective and have negative side-effects, making further research into pain and anxiety circuitry crucial. The technique of optogenetics is propelling the possibilities for functional neuroanatomical research. With the use of light-activated proteins called opsins, optogenetics enables the switching on or off of a selective population of neurons, with precise temporal control. This manuscript reviews recent research that has employed optogenetic methodology to advance understanding of the neural circuitry of pain and anxiety and identify novel approaches for their improved treatment.
慢性疼痛和焦虑是使人虚弱的疾病，通常并存。疼痛和焦虑的神经回路有很大的重叠。这些疾病的当前治疗方法往往无效且有副作用，因此对疼痛和焦虑回路进行进一步研究至关重要。光遗传学技术为功能神经解剖学研究带来了新的可能。通过使用称为光感蛋白的光激活蛋白，光遗传学可以实现选择性神经元群体的开关，具有精确的时间控制。本文综述了最近利用光遗传学方法来提高对疼痛和焦虑神经回路的理解并确定改善其治疗方法的新方法的研究。
