General anaesthetics (GAs) have analgesic effects that are distinct from their loss-of-consciousness effects, but their mechanisms are unclear. Here, in vivo calcium imaging revealed a population of GABAergic neurons in the mouse central amygdala activated by GAs. Optogenetic activation of these neurons produced analgesic-like effects in naive mice and in acute and chronic neuropathic pain models; optogenetic inhibition produced opposite effects. Targeting these neurons might have potential in treating chronic pain.
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Hua, T. et al. General anesthetics activate a potent central pain-suppression circuit in the amygdala. Nat. Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-020-0632-8 (2020)
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Lewis, S. Anaesthetizing chronic pain. Nat Rev Neurosci 21, 399 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-020-0330-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-020-0330-2
