Biphasic Activation of Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase in Anterior Cingulate Cortex Distinctly Regulates the Development of Pain-related Anxiety and Mechanical Hypersensitivity in Rats after Incision

Abstract

These data suggest that in the early phase of postoperative pain, pain-related anxiety and mechanical hypersensitivity are tightly linked and regulated by the ERK activation in the ACC. However, in the late phase of postoperative pain, ERK activation in the ACC is only required for the expression of pain-related anxiety but not mechanical hypersensitivity.