A midbrain circuit that mediates headache aversiveness

These data demonstrate a direct connection between the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that contributes to headache aversiveness. Many VTA neurons receive monosynaptic input from the vlPAG, and cranial nociceptive input increases Fos expression in VTA-projecting vlPAG neurons. Activation of PAG inputs to the VTA induces avoidance behavior, while inactivation of these projections induces a place preference only in animals with headache. This work identifies a distinct pathway that mediates cranial nociceptive aversiveness. Source data for electrophysiology and Fos counting in the vlPAG are provided here. A summary of behavioral data is also provided.

本数据集揭示了腹外侧导水管周围灰质（ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, vlPAG）与腹侧被盖区（ventral tegmental area, VTA）之间的直接神经联系，该通路参与介导头痛的厌恶性反应。多数VTA神经元接收来自vlPAG的单突触输入，且颅部伤害性传入信号会使投射至VTA的vlPAG神经元的Fos表达水平升高。激活vlPAG向VTA的神经投射可诱导回避行为，而抑制此类投射仅在头痛模型动物中引发位置偏好。本研究明确了一条介导颅部伤害性厌恶性反应的独特神经通路。本数据集提供了vlPAG区域电生理学实验与Fos计数的原始数据，同时也附带了行为学数据的汇总结果。