Microglial Depletion does not Afect the Laterality of Mechanical Allodynia in Mice

 Quan Ma1,2,3 · Dongmei Su2,3 · Jiantao Huo2,3 · Guangjuan Yin2,3 · Dong Dong2,3 · Kaifang Duan2,3 · Hong Cheng2,3 · Huiling Xu3  · Jiao Ma3  · Dong Liu2,3 · Bin Mou4  · Jiyun Peng4  · Longzhen Cheng2,3,5
1 School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China 
2 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China 
3 Department of Biology, Brain Research Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China 
4 Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China 5 Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China

Abstract

Mechanical allodynia (MA), including punctate and dynamic forms, is a common and debilitating symptom suffered by millions of chronic pain patients. Some peripheral injuries result in the development of bilateral MA, while most injuries usually led to unilateral MA. To date, the control of such laterality remains poorly understood. Here, to study the role of microglia in the control of MA laterality, we used genetic strategies to deplete microglia and tested both dynamic and punctate forms of MA in mice. Surprisingly, the depletion of central microglia did not prevent the induction of bilateral dynamic and punctate MA. Moreover, in dorsal root ganglion–dorsal root–sagittal spinal cord slice preparations we recorded the low-threshold Aβ-fiber stimulation-evoked inputs and outputs of superficial dorsal horn neurons. Consistent with behavioral results, microglial depletion did not prevent the opening of bilateral gates for Aβ pathways in the superficial dorsal horn. This study challenges the role of microglia in the control of MA laterality in mice. Future studies are needed to further understand whether the role of microglia in the control of MA laterality is etiology-or species-specific.


Keywords
Microglia; Mechanical allodynia; Laterality; Spinal dorsal horn; Aβ; Dynamic allodynia; Punctate allodynia