Reduced basal ganglia μ-opioid receptor availability in trigeminal neuropathic pain: A pilot study

Background: Although neuroimaging techniques have provided insights into the function of brain regions involved in Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain (TNP) in humans, there is little understanding of the molecular mechanisms affected during the course of this disorder. Understanding these processes is crucial to determine the systems involved in the development and persistence of TNP. Findings: In this study, we examined the regional mu-opioid receptor (mu OR) availability in vivo (non-displaceable binding potential BPND) of TNP patients with positron emission tomography (PET) using the mu OR selective radioligand [C-11] carfentanil. Four TNP patients and eight gender and age-matched healthy controls were examined with PET. Patients with TNP showed reduced mu OR BPND in the left nucleus accumbens (NAc), an area known to be involved in pain modulation and reward/aversive behaviors. In addition, the mu OR BPND in the NAc was negatively correlated with the McGill sensory and total pain ratings in the TNP patients. Conclusions: Our findings give preliminary evidence that the clinical pain in TNP patients can be related to alterations in the endogenous mu-opioid system, rather than only to the peripheral pathology. The decreased availability of mu ORs found in TNP patients, and its inverse relationship to clinical pain levels, provide insights into the central mechanisms related to this condition. The results also expand our understanding about the impact of chronic pain on the limbic system.