Characterization of Mitochondrial Morphology in a Neuropathic Pain Rat Model Using Transmission Electron Microscopy

Chronic pain affects millions of individuals worldwide, yet remains poorly managed due to limited therapeutic options and the adverse effects of current treatments. As mitochondrial health in the central nervous system plays an important role in neuronal function and signaling, elucidating changes to organellar health during chronic pain may provide novel therapeutic insights. This study aims to investigate the morphological changes in spinal cord mitochondria in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model of neuropathic pain, using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The primary objective is to compare the mitochondrial morphology in synaptic terminal and dendritic regions of spinal cord sections from naive and CCI rats at different time points in pain progression. Mitochondrial size, shape, and cristae area, as well as synaptic terminal area and synapse length will be quantified using ImageJ (FIJI). We hypothesize that chronic pain will induce distinct alterations in mitochondrial morphology that may reflect or cause changes in cellular function and contribute to modulation in nociceptive signaling. By identifying specific mitochondrial changes associated with neuropathic pain, this study seeks to deepen our understanding of nociceptive neuronal signaling and contribute to the development of targeted therapies for chronic pain management.