Round-table meeting May 2018

Round-table meeting 23 May 2018

Dear CNAP member,

We are delighted to present to you the programme for the next round table discussion, which will take place on May 23, 2018 at 12:30 - 15:30, FRB 7D/2.106.

As you already know, we will this time focus on the theme “Spinal plasticity”.

Genetic studies conducted in the last two decades have been invaluable in elucidating Spinal synaptic plasticity has been implicated with hyperalgesia and allodynia as well as referred pain. Several forms of activity-dependent plasticity have been described in the spinal cord such as windup lasting seconds to minutes, and facilitated/attenuated excitability of spinal reflexes lasting for long time following an injury. Long-term potentiation and depression of spinal synaptic transmission for nociceptive signals have also been shown to be long-lasting.

The mechanisms underlying sensitization in dorsal horn nociceptive neurons to a large extent overlap for inflammatory and neuropathic pain conditions. The NMDA receptor system is regarded to play a pivotal role for induction and maintenance of such central sensitization.

The literature on spinal nociceptive plasticity is large, but a few classical papers on spinal plasticity could be mentioned:

Hoheisel 1989: Long-term changes in discharge behaviour of cat dorsal horn
neurones following noxious stimulation of deep tissues

Klein 2006: Perceptual Correlate of Nociceptive Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) in
Humans Shares the Time Course of Early-LTP

Sandkühler 1998: Induction of long-term potentiation at spinal synapses by
noxious stimulation or nerve injury

Torebjörk 1992: Central changes in processing of mechanoreceptive input in capsaicin-induced secondary hyperalgesia in humans

Wall 1984: Muscle but not cutaneous c-afferent input produces prolonged increases in the excitability of the flexion reflex in the rat

These papers are meant to serve as an introduction to/brush-up on the topic.

Programme

12.30    Combined presentation of Hoheisel 1989: Long-term changes in discharge behaviour of cat dorsal hornneurones following noxious stimulation of deep tissues and Wall 1984: Muscle but not cutaneous c-afferent input produces prolonged increases in the excitability of the flexion reflex in the rat by Megan

Presentation of Sandkühler 1998: Induction of long-term potentiation at spinal synapses by noxious stimulation or nerve injury by Suzan

13.10    Break

13.20    Presentation of Klein 2006: Perceptual Correlate of Nociceptive Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) in Humans Shares the Time Course of Early-LTP by Steffen

Presentation of Margerl 2018: The human pain system exhibits higher-order plasticity (metaplasticity) by Rosa

Presentation of Taves 2013: Microglia and Spinal Cord Synaptic Plasticity in Persistent Pain by Dennis

14.30    Walk and talk in groups on specific topics:

According to you, what is the next potential study on spinal plasticity?
What is the balance between spinal plasticity and supraspinal structures that are involved in the modulation and processing of pain?

Is spinal plasticity merely a volume effect or do the spinal interneurons have a more profound role?
How can I exclude the effect of spinal plasticity in my study?

15.00    Coffee picnic

15.30    Thank you for today!

Attached please find the paper selected for presentation. Complete lists of all the incoming papers are available at CNAP´s Intranet 

Kind regards on behalf of the CNAP round table committee,
Laura, Shellie, Parisa, Carsten, and Thomas

NB! Participation is mandatory for all CNAP members if not agreed otherwise with your RIG Head.