Maladaptive adult neurogenesis in the mammalian brain has been associated with diverse behaviors including disrupted learning, negative mood disorders and psychiatric conditions. However, its functional role in the generation and maintenance of chronic pathological pain has not yet been elucidated. Using an inducible genetic deletion in vivo mouse model, different behavioural paradigms and home cage monitoring systems, we show that an absence of adult neurogenesis does not impact the development of neuropathic injury-induced peripheral nociceptive hypersensitivity, but rather promotes the recovery of pathological pain as well as improves parameters associated with the state of well-being of the injured mice. These results provide a mechanistic insight into the mechanisms of chronic pain and implicate neurogenic processes as a potential therapeutic target for reducing pain and improving the quality of life for patients.

哺乳动物大脑中适应不良的成人神经发生与多种行为有关，包括学习中断、消极情绪障碍和精神疾病。然而，其在慢性病理性疼痛的产生和维持中的功能作用尚未阐明。使用可诱导的体内基因缺失小鼠模型、不同的行为范式和家庭笼监测系统，我们表明成人神经发生的缺失不会影响神经性损伤引起的外周痛觉过敏的发展，而是促进病理性疼痛的恢复以及改善与受伤小鼠的健康状态相关的参数。