# Modulation of nociception in the hornworm, Manduca sexta

> **NIH NIH SC3** · SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $116,250

## Abstract

Project Summary
Nociception is the sensory reception and processing of noxious stimuli, which is perceived as
pain in humans. Nociceptive sensitization occurs after presentation of a noxious stimulus, and in
humans can result in chronic conditions such as allodynia or hyperalgesia, where normally
innocuous stimuli are perceived as painful. It has been suggested that nociceptive sensitization
in invertebrates may be models of allodynia or hyperalgesia, and this project aims to use the
defensive strike response in the hornworm Manduca sexta as a model of allodynia and
hyperalgesia. As an invertebrate, M. sexta is unregulated, has a simple nervous system that can
be maintained with minimal aeration in vitro for hours to days, and has a quantifiable defensive
strike in vivo. Moreover, vertebrate pain signaling molecules appear to have homologous
counterparts in insects. The goals of this project are to:
 1) Characterize nociceptive sensitization in M. sexta, in terms of the duration of the
 response and the types of stimuli inducing sensitization.
 2) Identify the sensory network and nociceptors in M. sexta electrophysiologically and
 immunohistochemically, and
 3) Verify the molecular mechanism of sensitization and analgesia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9850983
- **Project number:** 5SC3GM118218-04
- **Recipient organization:** SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MEGUMI M. FUSE
- **Activity code:** SC3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $116,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-02-01 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9850983

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9850983, Modulation of nociception in the hornworm, Manduca sexta (5SC3GM118218-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9850983. Licensed CC0.

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