Cortical disinhibition is the underlying pathological alteration contributing to neuropathic pain associated with peripheral nerve injury. Nerve injury resulting in disinhibition of the anterior cingulate cortex has been reported. However, the effect of optogenetic inhibition of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) on the sensory component of nerve injury–induced neuropathic pain has not been well studied. To investigate the feasibility of optogenetic ACC modulation, we injected an optogenetic virus or a null virus into the ACC of a nerve injury–induced neuropathic pain model. The unilateral ACC was modulated, and the optogenetic effect was measured by mechanical and thermal sensitivity tests. The assessment was performed in “pre—light off,” “stimulation—yellow light on,” and “post—light off” states. Optogenetic inhibition of the ACC in injury models revealed improved mechanical and thermal latencies with profound pain-relieving effects against nerve injury–induced neuropathic pain. The sensory thalamic discharge in electrophysiological in vivo recordings was also altered during laser stimulation. This finding indicates that hyperactivity of the ACC in nerve injury increases output to the spinothalamic tract through direct or indirect pathways. The direct photoinhibition of ACC neurons could play a vital role in restoring equilibrium and provide novel insight into techniques that can assuage peripheral nerve injury–induced neuropathic pain.

皮质去抑制是导致与周围神经损伤相关的神经性疼痛的潜在病理改变。已经报道了导致前扣带回皮层去抑制的神经损伤。然而，前扣带回皮层（ACC）的光遗传学抑制对神经损伤引起的神经性疼痛的感觉成分的影响尚未得到很好的研究。为了研究光遗传学 ACC 调节的可行性，我们将光遗传学病毒或无效病毒注射到神经损伤诱导的神经性疼痛模型的 ACC 中。调节单侧ACC，并通过机械和热敏感性测试测量光遗传效应。评估在“前-关灯”、“刺激-黄灯”和“后-关灯”状态下进行。损伤模型中 ACC 的光遗传学抑制揭示了改善的机械和热潜伏期，对神经损伤引起的神经性疼痛具有显着的镇痛作用。在激光刺激期间，电生理学体内记录中的感觉丘脑放电也发生了改变。这一发现表明神经损伤中 ACC 的过度活跃通过直接或间接途径增加了对脊髓丘脑束的输出。ACC 神经元的直接光抑制可以在恢复平衡方面发挥重要作用，并为减轻周围神经损伤引起的神经性疼痛的技术提供新的见解。在激光刺激期间，电生理学体内记录中的感觉丘脑放电也发生了改变。这一发现表明神经损伤中 ACC 的过度活跃通过直接或间接途径增加了对脊髓丘脑束的输出。ACC 神经元的直接光抑制可以在恢复平衡方面发挥重要作用，并为减轻周围神经损伤引起的神经性疼痛的技术提供新的见解。在激光刺激期间，电生理学体内记录中的感觉丘脑放电也发生了改变。这一发现表明神经损伤中 ACC 的过度活跃通过直接或间接途径增加了对脊髓丘脑束的输出。ACC 神经元的直接光抑制可以在恢复平衡方面发挥重要作用，并为减轻周围神经损伤引起的神经性疼痛的技术提供新的见解。