The role of microglia in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis in regulation of orofacial cancer-induced pain in rats

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2021.05.004

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the role of microglia activation in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) in the development of orofacial cancer-induced pain. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats(280-300 g) were injected with Walker 256 cell suspension under the tongue mucosa to establish tongue tumor pain model. In experiment 1, the rats were randomly divided into control group (Sham) and tumor group (Tumor) (n=10). Head withdrawal mechanical threshold (HWMT) was measured with Von Frey Hair, and immunofluorescence technology was used to detect the proliferation and activation of microglia in the Vc. In experiment 2, the rats were randomly divided into four groups(n=10), i.e., Sham + Veh (intraperitoneal injection with PBS in group Sham), Sham + Mino (intraperitoneal injection with minocycline in group Sham), Tumor + Veh (intraperitoneal injection with PBS in group Tumor), Tumor + Mino (intraperitoneal injection with minocycline in group Tumor). The proliferation and activation of microglia in the Vc were detected, the mRNA expression level of Iba-1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in Vc were detected by qRT-PCR, and the orofacial mechanical pain of rats was measured by HWMT. SPSS 19.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: As the tumors continued to grow, HWMT in the tumor-bearing rats were decreased initially on day 5(P<0.05) versus the sham group and continued to decline until day 10. Marked proliferated and activated microglia were observed on day 5 and day 10 compared with the sparsely ramified microglia in the sham group. Treatment with minocycline (Tumor + Mino) inhibited the proliferation and activation of microglia and the mRNA expression level of Iba-1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the Vc. HWMT was significantly higher in tumor-bearing rats receiving minocycline (Tumor + Mino) than in tumor-bearing rats receiving vehicle (Tumor + Veh). CONCLUSIONS: Activation of microglia promoted the release of inflammatory factors, which played a role in the development of orofacial cancer pain. Inhibition of microglia activation could significantly alleviate orofacial cancer-induced pain.

Key words: Cancer-induced pain, Trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis, Microglia, Minocycline

CLC Number:

R739.8

WANG Hui, SUN Jin-hu. The role of microglia in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis in regulation of orofacial cancer-induced pain in rats[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2021, 19(5): 405-410.

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