The peripheral terminals of primary nociceptive neurons play an essential role in pain detection mediated by membrane receptors like TRPV1, a molecular sensor of heat and capsaicin. However, the contribution of central terminal TRPV1 in the dorsal horn to chronic pain has not been investigated directly. Combining primary sensory neuron-specific GCaMP3 imaging with a trigeminal neuropathic pain ...

The brainstem trigeminal complex integrates somatosensory inputs from orofacial areas and meninges. Recent studies have shown the existence of a double representation of pain within the brainstem, at the level of both caudalis and oralis subnuclei. Noxious messages are mainly conveyed by C-fibers that activate the subnucleus caudalis neurons. These neurons in turn activate the subnucleus oralis...

Responses resulting from injury to the trigeminal nerve exhibit differences compared with those caused by lesion of other peripheral nerves. With the aim of elucidating the physiopathological mechanisms underlying cephalic versus extracephalic neuropathic pain, we determined the time course expression of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1beta, neuronal injury (ATF3), macrop...

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Trigeminal neuralgia is often the result of vascular compression at the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve. We report a case of trigeminal neuralgia in a patient with a dural arteriovenous fistula in Meckel's cave. Endovascular closure of the fistula resulted in elimination of the patient's pain at the gasserian ganglion level. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 77-year-old...

We explored differences in postoperative pain relief achieved through decompression of the trigeminal nerve compressed by arteries and veins. Clinical characteristics, intraoperative findings, and postoperative curative effects were analyzed in 72 patients with trigeminal neuralgia who were treated by microvascular decompression. The patients were divided into arterial and venous compression gr...

emphasize the importance to the surgeon nowadays of forecasting in advance if possible the pathology of the lesion to be treated, because the plan of attack sometimes depends on fore-knowledge of the pathology. (Operations for alleviation of pain were touched on, with special reference to trigeminal neuralgia. The characteristics of the paroxysmal neuralgia were outlined and the importance of d...

Paroxysmal trigeminal neuralgia still remains a difficult condition to treat. Carbamazepine (Tegretol) has been a first line treatment, failing this surgery becomes necessary. However, many surgical procedures result in permanent sensory loss. Peripheral cryotherapy, along with the recently described Jannetta (1976) and Hakanson (1981) techniques, attempt to preserve sensation. Cryotherapy to 5...

The trigeminal pain pathway, as related to migraine, is represented by three main sites: i) the trigeminal nerve and ganglion providing unmyelinated C fibers that innervate the vessels (the trigeminovascular system) and the central projections to the brainstem; ii) the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) in the brainstem; and iii) the brain as the site of pain consciousness. Each of these sites h...