Identification of quantitative trait loci for chemical/inflammatory nociception in mice

Sonya G. Wilson, Elissa J. Chesler, Heather Hain, Andrew J. Rankin, Joel Z. Schwarz, Stanford B. Call, Michael R. Murray, Erin E. West, Cory Teuscher, Sandra Rodriguez-Zas, John K. Belknap, Jeffrey S. Mogil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sensitivity to pain is widely variable, and much of this variability is genetic in origin. The specific genes responsible have begun to be identified, but only for thermal nociception. In order to facilitate the identification of polymorphic, pain-related genes with more clinical relevance, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies of the most common assay of inflammatory nociception, the formalin test. QTL mapping is a technique that exploits naturally occurring variability among inbred strains for the identification of genomic locations containing genes contributing to that variability. An F2 intercross was constructed using inbred A/J and C57BL/6J mice as progenitors, strains previously shown to display resistance and sensitivity, respectively, to formalin-induced nociception. Following phenotypic testing (5% formalin, 25μl intraplantar injection), mice were genotyped at 90 microsatellite markers spanning the genome. We provide evidence for two statistically significant formalin test QTLs - chromosomal regions whose inheritance is associated with trait variability - on distal mouse chromosomes 9 and 10. Identification of the genes underlying these QTLs may illuminate the basis of individual differences in inflammatory pain, and lead to novel analgesic treatment strategies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)385-391
Number of pages7
JournalPain
Volume96
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Formalin test
  • Gene mapping
  • Genetics
  • Inflammation
  • Pain
  • Strain differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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