# Brainstem trigeminal mechanisms of orofacial pain

> **NIH NIH R03** · QUEENS COLLEGE · 2022 · $77,000

## Abstract

Abstract
One of the most common causes of chronic pain, is orofacial pain which has a
prevalence of 10-15% in the adult population which increases with age and is more
common in women with a significant societal impact. Individuals who experience
orofacial pain often do so with no obvious underlying tissue damage. This suggests that
their pain is likely due to dysfunction in central pain processing circuitry. We have
identified a knockout mouse (Prrxl1 KO) that has chronic orofacial pain, which we will
utilize to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying the condition as a
necessary step towards targeted therapeutic interventions. Prrxl1 KO mice lack the
typical patterning associated with whisker inputs in the trigeminal system. Our
preliminary results have revelated that Prrxl1 KO mice posses a facial hyperalgesia and
a somatic hypoaglgesia while also displaying excessive facial grooming and feeding
issues consistent with a chronic trigeminally medicated orofacial pain. In the first aim we
will characterize the behavioral issues experience by the Prrxl1 KO mice via probing
with von Frey elements, utilization of a Peltier device and direct applied pressure to the
face in Prrxl1KO mice, barrelless mice (which lack cortical patterning) and wild-type
animals. Additional home-cage videography will allow for facial grimace and grooming
measurements. Responses in the absence and the presence of an analgesic will be
compared. The second aim will focus on neurophysiological responses from single
neurons in the principle sensory nucleus of the trigeminal (PrV) and the spinal trigeminal
nucleus (SpV) in response to mechanical and thermal stimuli to begin to elucidate the
neural circuitry underlying orofacial pain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10432314
- **Project number:** 1R03NS126987-01
- **Recipient organization:** QUEENS COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSHUA Craig BRUMBERG
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $77,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10432314

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10432314, Brainstem trigeminal mechanisms of orofacial pain (1R03NS126987-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10432314. Licensed CC0.

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