Formalin-induced inflammatory pain increases excitability in locus coeruleus neurons

Chronic pain is recognized as an important problem in communities. The locus coeruleus (LC) with extensive ascending and descending projections has a critical role in modulating pain. Some studies indicate how the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline system can remain more active after nociceptive stimulation. In the present study, we examined whether formalin-induced inflammatory pain may affect the electrophysiological properties of LC neurons after 24 h. Inflammatory pain was induced by a subcutaneous injection of 2% formalin (10 mu L) into the hind paw of 2-3 week-old male Wistar rats. After 24 h, horizontal slices of brain stem containing the locus coeruleus were prepared and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were carried out on LC neurons. Findings revealed that LC neurons from formalin injected rats had a significant enhancement in firing rate, half-width and instantaneous frequency of action potentials, but their resting membrane potential, input resistance and afterhyperpolarization amplitude almost remained unchanged. In addition, action potential peak amplitude, maximum rise slope, maximum decay slope, first spike latency and rheobase current significantly decreased in LC neurons obtained from formalin-treated rats. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate that inflammatory pain after 24 h induces hyperexcitability in LC neurons, which in turn may result in changes in noradrenaline release and pain processing.