Kim, C Jun, K Lee, T Kim, SS McEnery, MW Chin, H Kim, HL Park, JM Kim, DK Jung, SJ Kim, J Shin, HS 2024-01-21T12:05:30Z 2024-01-21T12:05:30Z 2021-09-04 2001-08 1044-7431 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/140301 Calcium influx through N-type calcium channels mediates synaptic transmission at numerous central synapses and transduces nociceptive information in the spinal dorsal hom. However, the precise role of N-type calcium channels in pain perception is not fully elucidated. To address this issue, we generated and analyzed knockout mice for a,,, the pore-forming subunit of the N-type calcium channel. Homozygous mutants are viable, fertile, and show normal motor coordination. In small-diameter dorsal root ganglion neurons from mutants the density of calcium channel currents is significantly reduced, which can be accounted for by the abolition of N-type currents. We performed several pain-related behavioral tests using the mutant mice. alpha (1B)-Deficient mice show reduced response to mechanical stimuli in the von Frey test and increased tail flick latency in response to radiant heat, indicating altered spinal reflexes. However, pain response in the hot plate test is normal. In the formalin paw test, the mutant mice exhibit significantly attenuated response in Phase 2, but normal pain behaviors in Phase 1. The response to visceral inflammatory pain caused by acetic acid is also reduced in alpha (1B) knockout mice. These results suggest that the alpha (1B) subunit of N-type calcium channel plays a major role in pain perception by acting at the spinal level, but not at the supraspinal level. English ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE ROOT GANGLION NEURONS RAT SENSORY NEURONS N-TYPE OMEGA-CONOTOXIN FORMALIN TEST SPINAL-CORD CA2+ CHANNEL SUBCUTANEOUS FORMALIN SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION NEUROPATHIC PAIN Altered nociceptive response in mice deficient in the alpha(1B) subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel Article 10.1006/mcne.2001.1013 1 MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE, v.18, no.2, pp.235 - 245 MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE 18 2 235 245 scie scopus 000170896600009 Neurosciences Neurosciences & Neurology Article ROOT GANGLION NEURONS RAT SENSORY NEURONS N-TYPE OMEGA-CONOTOXIN FORMALIN TEST SPINAL-CORD CA2+ CHANNEL SUBCUTANEOUS FORMALIN SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION NEUROPATHIC PAIN