Peripheral axotomy increases cholecystokinin release in the rat anterior cingulate cortex

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a limbic region with a high density of cholecystokinin (CCK) immunoreactivity, that has been suggested to be of importance for the affective and emotional component of pain. In the prese nt microdialysis study, performed in the awake rat, we demonstrate a bilate ral 4- to 6-fold increase of the potassium-induced release of CCK-like immu noreactivity (CCK-LI) in the ACC 2-3 weeks after a unilateral transection o f the sciatic nerve (axotomy), an animal model of phantom limb or deafferen tiation pain. Considering the implication of CCK in pain modulation and anx iety, we suggest that an altered activity of CCK containing neurons in the ACC may be of importance for the affective component of certain pain condit ions. NeuroReport 11:3345-3348 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.