Zhou, JingjingZhang, XiaoxueZhou, YouWu, BinTan, Zhi-Yong2021-04-202021-04-202019-02-28Zhou, J., Zhang, X., Zhou, Y., Wu, B., & Tan, Z.-Y. (2019). Up-regulation of P2X7 Receptors Contributes to Spinal Microglial Activation and the Development of Pain Induced by BmK-I. Neuroscience Bulletin, 35(4), 624–636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12264-019-00345-01995-8218https://hdl.handle.net/1805/25699Previous work has demonstrated that the sensitization of spinal neurons and microglia is important in the development of pain behaviors induced by BmK I, a Na+ channel activator and a major peptide component of the venom of the scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch (BmK). We found that the expression of P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) was up-regulated in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn after BmK I injection in rats. P2X7R was selectively localized in microglia but not astrocytes or neurons. Similarly, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) was selectively up-regulated in microglia in the spinal dorsal horn after BmK I injection. Intrathecal injection of P2X7R antagonists largely reduced BmK I-induced spontaneous and evoked pain behaviors, and the up-regulation of P2X7R and IL-1β in the spinal cord. These data suggested that the up-regulation of P2X7Rs mediates microglial activation in the spinal dorsal horn, and therefore contributes to the development of BmK I-induced pain.en-USP2X7 receptorBmK ISpinal dorsal hornInterleukin 1βMicrogliaBrilliant Blue GArticle