International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020 · DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072390 · Published: March 30, 2020
This study investigates how spinal cord stimulation (SCS) reduces neuropathic pain after nerve injury. The researchers focused on the role of microglial activation in the spinal cord, which is known to contribute to pain hypersensitivity. SCS was applied to rats with sciatic nerve injury, and the effects on pain sensitivity, microglial activity, and brain responses were measured. Minocycline, a drug that inhibits microglial activation, was also tested for its effects. The findings suggest that SCS reduces neuropathic pain by suppressing microglial activation in the spinal cord, which in turn reduces neuronal hyperexcitability and alters brain responses to pain stimuli. This indicates SCS could be a useful therapy for neuropathic pain.
SCS is likely to be a potential alternative medicine therapy to alleviate neuropathic pain following nerve injury.
The study highlights the importance of microglial activation in neuropathic pain and suggests that targeting microglia could be a therapeutic strategy.
SCS modulates pain processing at both the spinal and supraspinal levels, indicating its potential to alter central sensitization.