The role of basolateral amygdala orexin 1 receptors on the modulation of pain and psychosocial deficits in nitroglycerin-induced migraine model in adult male rats

Khadijeh Askari-Zahabi, Mehdi Abbasnejad, Razieh Kooshki, Maryam Raoof, Saeed Esmaeili-Mahani, Ali Mohammad Pourrahimi*, Mahnaz Zamyad

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Migraine headaches have been associated with sensory hyperactivity and anomalies in social/emotional responses. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential involvement of orexin 1 receptors (Orx1R) within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the modulation of pain and psychosocial dysfunction in a nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced rat model of migraine. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were injected with NTG (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) every second day over nine days to induce migraine. The experiments were done in the following six groups (6 rats per group): untreated control, NTG, NTG plus vehicle, and NTG groups that were post-treated with intra-BLA microinjection of Orx1R antagonist SB-334867 (10, 20, and 40 nM). Thermal hyperalgesia was assessed using the hot plate and tail-flick tests. Moreover, the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field (OF) tests were used to assess anxiety-like behaviors. The animals' sociability was evaluated using the three-chamber social task. The NTG-induced photophobia was assessed using a light-dark box. Results: We observed no change in NTG-induced thermal hyperalgesia following administration of SB-334867 (10, 20, and 40 nM). However, SB-334867 (20 and 40 nM) aggravated the NTG-induced anxiogenic responses in both the EPM and OF tasks. The NTG-induced social impairment was overpowered by SB-334867 at all doses. Time spent in the dark chamber of light-dark box was significantly increased in rats treated with SB-334867 (20 and 40 nM/rat). Conclusions: The findings suggest a role for Orx1R within the BLA in control comorbid affective complaints with migraine in rats.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22-32
Number of pages11
JournalKorean Journal of Pain
Volume35
Issue number1
Early online date1 Jan 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and Kerman University of Medical Sciences for financial support.

Funding Information:
This study was granted by Kerman University of Medical Sciences (grant number: 99-1).

Publisher Copyright:
© The Korean Pain Society, 2022.

Funding

The authors wish to thank Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and Kerman University of Medical Sciences for financial support. This study was granted by Kerman University of Medical Sciences (grant number: 99-1).

FundersFunder number
Kerman University of Medical Sciences99-1
Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

    Keywords

    • Amygdala
    • Anxiety
    • Basolateral nuclear complex
    • Hyperalgesia
    • Migraine disorders
    • Nitroglycerin
    • Orexin receptor antagonists
    • Orexin receptors
    • Orexins
    • Rats

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