Face sensorimotor cortex undergoes neuroplastic changes in a rat model of trigeminal neuropathic pain

摘要: Trigeminal nerve injury can result in neuropathic pain behavior and alterations motor function, but it is unclear if such produces neuroplastic face sensorimotor cortex that could contribute to the function. Therefore, this study aimed determine trigeminal a rat model induces changes jaw tongue representations association with facial nociceptive behavior. Right infraorbital transection was performed adult male Sprague-Dawley rats; sham-operated rats served as controls. Nociceptive assessed by testing mechanical sensitivity pre-operatively post-operatively (1-28 days). Intracortical microstimulation also applied series of microelectrode penetrations map analyzing anterior digastric genioglossus electromyographic activities evoked at histologically verified sites primary somatosensory (face-SI) well (face-MI). Compared sham, induced significant (2-way repeated-measures analysis variance, P < 0.001) bilateral decrease threshold lasted up 28 days post-operatively. Nerve compared sham (P < 0.05) number and/or face-MI face-SI. These findings indicate are associated may following injury.