来週9月2日のNeuroClubを担当します、神経科学研究部の杉村です。
下記の論文を紹介いたします。
よろしくお願いいたします。

A brainstem pathway underlying vagal modulation of somatic pain and
affective states.
Tang Y, Shao R, Luo L, Liao L, Wang X, Zhu H, Xiao X, Deng H.
Nat Neurosci. 2026 Jul;29(7):1638-1653. doi: 10.1038/s41593-026-02313-0.
Epub 2026 Jun 3.
PMID: 42237031

Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) alleviates pain, yet the underlying neural
mechanisms remain elusive. Furthermore, the caudal nucleus of the
solitary tract (cNTS) receives vagal and somatic inputs, but how it
transforms pain signals into behavior and how VNS modulates this
processing remain unclear. Here we identified a population of cNTS
neurons projecting to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) (cNTSPAG) as a
critical node for VNS-dependent suppression of pain and negative affect
in mice. Optogenetic activation of cNTSPAG neurons recapitulated pain
behavior. These neurons exhibited modality-specific encoding of pain and
predictive signals after learning. Inhibition of spinal input-defined
cNTSPAG neurons reduced mechanical, but not thermal, nociception.
Notably, VNS selectively dampened pain-evoked cNTSPAG activity by
recruiting local inhibition and attenuated pain-evoked dopamine
reductions in the nucleus accumbens through cNTSPAG. Our findings
establish a brainstem pathway with a previously unrecognized role in VNS
modulation of pain and negative affect, providing insights for targeted
neuromodulation in pain management.
—
Yae K. Sugimura
Research Associate, PhD
Department of Neuroscience,
Center for Neuroscience of Pain,
Jikei University School of Medicine
3-25-8 Nishi-shimbashi, Minato,
Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
Tel. 813 3433 1111 ext. 2396
Fax. 813 5400 1231