The vagus nerve activated by inflammation co-transmits acute visceral pain via the NTS-PVN pathway

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) induces visceral pain through inflammation and mechanical stress, yet current treatments remain inadequate. This therapeutic limitation reflects our limited knowledge of how nociceptive signals are transmitted from peripheral visceral afferents to central neural pathways. METHODS: A neural circuit connecting the pancreas and the brain was mapped using various viral tracer techniques. The role of this circuit in acute pancreatitis-induced visceral pain was verified using optogenetics, chemogenetics, fiber-optic in vivo calcium signal recording, and electrophysiological techniques. RESULTS: pathway effectively alleviates AP-induced visceral pain behaviors in mice. CONCLUSIONS: ) that co-transmits inflammatory cytokine-activated visceral pain signals alongside spinal pathways.

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Publication Details

Journal
Brain Behavior and Immunity
Published
2026-03-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106551
Primary Topic
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

The vagus nerve activated by inflammation co-transmits acute visceral pain via the NTS-PVN pathway

Wen‐Jun Xin, Yan Xu, Yu-Ting Zhao, Yong-yong Zhao et al.
Brain Behavior and Immunity
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
article

The vagus nerve activated by inflammation co-transmits acute visceral pain via the NTS-PVN pathway

Wen‐Jun Xin, Yan Xu, Yu-Ting Zhao, Yong-yong Zhao, X. Sunney Xie, Xia Yang, Yue Wu, Yanqiu Liu, Jie Deng, Jingming Shi, Yu-Juan Duan, Yasi Zheng, Chuan Qin, Li Chen, Zi-Kun Zheng, Jing-Dun Xie, Xiao-Qing Tang, Ting Xu
article en

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) induces visceral pain through inflammation and mechanical stress, yet current treatments remain inadequate. This therapeutic limitation reflects our limited knowledge of how nociceptive signals are transmitted from peripheral visceral afferents to central neural pathways. METHODS: A neural circuit connecting the pancreas and the brain was mapped using various viral tracer techniques. The role of this circuit in acute pancreatitis-induced visceral pain was verified using optogenetics, chemogenetics, fiber-optic in vivo calcium signal recording, and electrophysiological techniques. RESULTS: pathway effectively alleviates AP-induced visceral pain behaviors in mice. CONCLUSIONS: ) that co-transmits inflammatory cytokine-activated visceral pain signals alongside spinal pathways.

Brain Behavior and ImmunityVol. 136
Tongji University (CN), Sun Yat-sen University (CN), Xizang Minzu University (CN), Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (CN), Longgang Central Hospital (CN), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (CN), Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (CN), Tongji Hospital (CN), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN), University of South China (CN), Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Project
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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