Longitudinal resting-state fMRI in a mouse model of metastatic bone cancer reveals distinct functional reorganizations along a developing chronic pain state.

Pain. 2018 Jan 09;:

Authors: Buehlmann D, Grandjeanc J, Xandryd J, Rudin M

Abstract
Functional neuroimaging has emerged as attractive option for characterizing pain states complementing behavioral readouts or clinical assessment. In particular resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) enables monitoring of functional adaptations across the brain, e.g. in response to chronic nociceptive input. We have used rs-fMRI in a mouse model of chronic pain from breast cancer derived tibial bone metastases to identify pain-induced alterations in functional connectivity (FC). Combined assessment of behavioral readouts allowed defining a trajectory as model function for extracting pain-specific FC changes from the fMRI data reflective of a chronic pain state. Cingulate and prefrontal cortices as well as the ventral striatum were identified as predominantly affected regions, in line with findings from clinical and preclinical studies. Inhibition of the peripheral bone remodeling processes by anti-osteolytic therapy led to a reduction of pain induced network alterations, emphasizing the specificity of the functional readouts for a developing chronic pain state.

PMID: 29319607 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]