A vagus nerve dominant tetra-synaptic ascending pathway for gastric pain processing

Fu-Chao Zhang, Rui-Xia Weng, Di Li, Yong-Chang Li, Xiao-Xuan Dai, Shufen Hu, Qian Sun, Rui Li () and Guang-Yin Xu ()
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Fu-Chao Zhang: Soochow University
Rui-Xia Weng: Soochow University
Di Li: Soochow University
Yong-Chang Li: Soochow University
Xiao-Xuan Dai: Soochow University
Shufen Hu: Soochow University
Qian Sun: The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
Rui Li: The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
Guang-Yin Xu: Soochow University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Gastric pain has limited treatment options and the mechanisms within the central circuitry remain largely unclear. This study investigates the central circuitry in gastric pain induced by noxious gastric distension (GD) in mice. Here, we identified that the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) serves as the first-level center of gastric pain, primarily via the vagus nerve. The prelimbic cortex (PL) is engaged in the perception of gastric pain. The lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) and the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) are crucial regions for synaptic transmission from the NTS to the PL. The glutamatergic tetra-synaptic NTS–LPB–PVT–PL circuitry is necessary and sufficient for the processing of gastric pain. Overall, our finding reveals a glutamatergic tetra-synaptic NTS–LPB–PVT–PL circuitry that transmits gastric nociceptive signaling by the vagus nerve in mice. It provides an insight into the gastric pain ascending pathway and offers potential therapeutic targets for relieving visceral pain.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54056-w

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