Spina bifida aperta (SBA), one of the most common congenital malformations, causes various neurological disorders. Pain is a common complaint of patients with SBA. However, little is known about the neuropathology of SBA-related pain. Because loss of g-aminobutyric acid GABAergic neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn is associated with pain, we hypothesised the existence of crosstalk between SBA-related pain and alterations in GABAergic transmission in the spinal cord. Therefore, we investigated the kinetics of GABAergic transmission in the spinal cord dorsal horn in a chicken model of SBA. Neonatal chicks with SBA exhibited various pain-like behaviours, such as an increased number of vocalisations with elevated intensity (loudness) and frequency (pitch), reduced mobility, difficulty with locomotion, and escape reactions. Furthermore, the chicks with SBA did not respond to standard toe-pinching, indicating disruption of the spinal cord sensorimotor networks. These behavioural observations were concomitant with loss of GABAergic transmission in the spinal cord dorsal horn. We also found apoptosis of GABAergic neurons in the superficial dorsal horn in the early neonatal period, although cellular abnormalisation and propagation of neuro­degenerative signals were evident at middle to advanced gestational stages. In conclusion, ablation of GABAergic neurons induced alterations in spinal cord neuronal networks, providing novel insights into the pathophysiology of SBA-related pain-like complications.

中文翻译：

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在脊柱裂的鸡模型中，脊髓背角中GABA能传递的抑制诱导疼痛相关行为。

脊柱裂（SBA）是最常见的先天性畸形之一，可引起多种神经系统疾病。疼痛是SBA患者的常见病。但是，关于SBA相关疼痛的神经病理学知之甚少。由于脊髓背角中g-氨基丁酸GABA能神经元的丢失与疼痛有关，因此我们假设SBA相关疼痛与脊髓GABA能传递的改变之间存在串扰。因此，我们调查了SBA鸡模型的脊髓背角中GABA能传递的动力学。患有SBA的新生雏鸡表现出各种疼痛样的行为，例如，发声数量增加，强度（响度）和频率（音高）增加，活动性降低，运动困难，并逃脱了反应。此外，患有SBA的雏鸡对标准的脚趾捏合没有反应，表明脊髓感觉运动网络受到破坏。这些行为观察伴随着脊髓背角中GABA能传递的丧失。我们还在新生儿早期发现了浅表背角的GABA能神经元凋亡，尽管在妊娠中期至晚期细胞异常和神经退行性信号的传播很明显。总之，GABA能神经元的消融诱导了脊髓神经元网络的改变，为SBA相关的疼痛样并发症的病理生理学提供了新的见解。这些行为观察伴随着脊髓背角中GABA能传递的丧失。我们还在新生儿早期发现了浅表背角的GABA能神经元凋亡，尽管在妊娠中期至晚期细胞异常和神经退行性信号的传播很明显。总之，GABA能神经元的消融诱导了脊髓神经元网络的改变，为SBA相关的疼痛样并发症的病理生理学提供了新的见解。这些行为观察伴随着脊髓背角中GABA能传递的丧失。我们还在新生儿早期发现了浅表背角的GABA能神经元凋亡，尽管在妊娠中期至晚期细胞异常和神经退行性信号的传播很明显。总之，GABA能神经元的消融诱导了脊髓神经元网络的改变，为SBA相关的疼痛样并发症的病理生理学提供了新的见解。