Impaired pain in mice lacking first-order posterior medial… : PAIN
which thalamic nuclei formation is disrupted because of the absence of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression from 2 key signaling centers that are required for embryonic forebrain development. The resulting defects observed in distinct thalamic sensory nuclei in Shh mutant embryos persisted into adulthood prompting us to examine their effect on behavioral responses to somatosensory stimulation. Our findings reveal a role for first-order posterior medial thalamic neurons and their projections to layer 4 of the secondary somatosensory cortex in the transmission of nociceptive information. Together, these results establish a connection between a neurodevelopmental lesion in the thalamus and a modality-specific disruption in pain perception….
