Abstract
A number of cellular systems work in concert to modulate nociceptive processing in the periphery, but the mechanisms that regulate neonatal nociception may be distinct compared to adults. Our previous work indicated a relationship between neonatal hypersensitivity and growth hormone (GH) signaling. Here, we explored the peripheral mechanisms by which GH modulated neonatal nociception under normal and injury conditions (incision). We found that GH receptor signaling in primary afferents maintains a tonic inhibition of peripheral hypersensitivity. After injury, a macrophage dependent displacement of injury-site GH was found to modulate neuronal transcription at least in part via serum response factor regulation. A single GH injection into the injured hindpaw muscle effectively restored available GH signaling to neurons and prevented acute pain-like behaviors, primary afferent sensitization, neuronal gene expression changes, and the long-term somatosensory changes observed after repeated peripheral insult. These results may indicate a novel mechanism of neonatal nociception.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing financial interests.