Painful tonic heat stimulation induces GABA accumulation in the prefrontal cortex in man

TY - JOUR

T1 - Painful tonic heat stimulation induces GABA accumulation in the prefrontal cortex in man

AU - Kupers, Ron

AU - Danielsen, Else R

AU - Kehlet, Henrik

AU - Christensen, Rune

AU - Thomsen, Carsten

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Brain Mapping; Female; Hot Temperature; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Pain; Pain Measurement; Pain Threshold; Prefrontal Cortex; Young Adult; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Relatively little is known on pain-induced neurotransmitter release in the human cerebral cortex. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) during tonic painful heat stimulation to test the hypothesis of increases in both glutamate and GABA, two neurotransmitters with a key role in pain processing. Using a 3T MR scanner, we acquired spectra from the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) in 13 healthy right-handed subjects at rest and during painful heat stimulation. The painful stimulus consisted of a suprathreshold painful tonic heat pulse, which was delivered to the right upper leg via a fMRI-compatible Peltier element. Compared to non-painful stimulation, painful tonic heat was associated with a significant increase in GABA concentrations in the rACC. No changes in glutamate concentrations were detected during noxious stimulation. This study provides the first evidence that GABA is released in the human cerebral cortex during painful stimulation. The results are in line with animal findings on the role of GABA in pain processing and with studies in humans showing analgesic efficacy of GABA-related drugs in clinical pain conditions.

AB - Relatively little is known on pain-induced neurotransmitter release in the human cerebral cortex. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) during tonic painful heat stimulation to test the hypothesis of increases in both glutamate and GABA, two neurotransmitters with a key role in pain processing. Using a 3T MR scanner, we acquired spectra from the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) in 13 healthy right-handed subjects at rest and during painful heat stimulation. The painful stimulus consisted of a suprathreshold painful tonic heat pulse, which was delivered to the right upper leg via a fMRI-compatible Peltier element. Compared to non-painful stimulation, painful tonic heat was associated with a significant increase in GABA concentrations in the rACC. No changes in glutamate concentrations were detected during noxious stimulation. This study provides the first evidence that GABA is released in the human cerebral cortex during painful stimulation. The results are in line with animal findings on the role of GABA in pain processing and with studies in humans showing analgesic efficacy of GABA-related drugs in clinical pain conditions.

U2 - 10.1016/j.pain.2008.12.008

DO - 10.1016/j.pain.2008.12.008

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19167811

SN - 0304-3959

VL - 142

SP - 89

EP - 93

JO - Pain

JF - Pain

IS - 1-2

ER -