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Abstract #2173

Rodent Resting-State FMRI in the Transition to Chronic Pain: Relating Functional Connectivity to Receptor Expression Changes

Pei-Ching Chang1, Sara Pollema1, Maria Virginia Centeno1, Daniele Procissi2, Marwan Baliki1, Marco Martina1, A. Vania Apkarian1

1Departments of Physiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States; 2Departments of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States

In this study, we combined rs-fMRI and receptors expression to evaluate the mechanisms of transition from an acute peripheral nerve injury to chronic neuropathic pain. We showed that enhanced functional connectivity in NAc with prefrontal regions in the neuropathic pain animals, consistent with increased PFC-NAc connectivity we observed in chronic pain patients. Furthermore, significant correlation between functional connectivity and receptors expression was observed in the neuropathic pain animals. This is the first demonstration of a link between human and animal fMRI for transition to chronic pain, and the first evidence relating changes in receptors expression and functional connectivity.

Keywords

acute advances allows analgesia anatomical anesthesia animal animals back body brain carried cellular chronic coefficient conditions connectivity consistent control corrected correlated correlation correlations correspondence cortex critical cutoff days decreased demonstration despite display distinct dopamine emotional enable enhanced essential evaluate evidence examine except exert existing experimental expression fields filtered findings fisher fluctuations functional furthermore global gradient harden healthy human identify induced injury intensity interconnectivity investigate known lesion levy link little maintained maria mechanisms mixed model molecular monitored moreover motion mutual necessary nerve neuron northwestern noxious nucleus opportunity opposite orbital pain paradigm pass patients peripheral persistent physiological physiology pooled potential predicting prevent prior procedures pulse radiology rare receptor receptors recorded regional regression regulated relating relationship relationships repetition repression resolution respiratory response resting rodent sacrificed scanned scanner scanning seed served sham site slice smoothed spared spatially spontaneous statistical stimuli subjects suggest summarized systems tactile temperature therapeutic threshold thresholds timing transformation transition treatments understand volumes