Endogenous opioids gate the locus coeruleus pain generator

Abstract

The locus coeruleus (LC) plays a paradoxical role in chronic pain. Although largely known as a potent source of endogenous analgesia, increasing evidence suggests injury can transform the LC into a chronic pain generator. We sought to clarify the role of this system in pain. Here, we show optogenetic inhibition of LC activity is acutely antinociceptive. Following long-term spared nerve injury, the same LC inhibition is analgesic - further supporting its pain generator function. To identify inhibitory substrates that may naturally serve this function, we turned to endogenous LC mu opioid receptors (LC-MOR). These receptors provide powerful LC inhibition and exogenous activation of LC-MOR is antinociceptive. We therefore hypothesized that endogenous LC-MOR-mediated inhibition is critical to how the LC modulates pain. Using cell type-selective conditional knockout and rescue of LC-MOR receptor signaling, we show these receptors bidirectionally regulate thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia - providing a functional gate on the LC pain generator.