Neurobiology of trigeminal pain
Research axis 1: Stress and vulnerability to trigeminal pain
Our goal: understanding how stress contributes to the onset and persistence of chronic orofacial pain.
Chronic orofacial pain often arises in a context of psychological vulnerability, in particular exposure to chronic stress, and is strongly associated with anxio-depressive symptoms. The overrepresentation of women among patients, with a female-to-male ratio of approximately 3:1 in painful trigeminal neuropathy, and 7:1 in burning mouth syndrome, also warrants particular attention. In this research axis, we focus on the development of etiologically relevant preclinical models of trigeminal pain in both males and females, combining stress exposure and a secondary insult, in accordance with the multiple hit hypothesis. Furthermore, pain symptoms are evaluated in an integrated manner, including the sensori-discriminative as well as the affectivo-motivational and cognitive components.
Ongoing projects
- Early-life stress and vulnerability to painful trigeminal neuropathies (led by Dr G. Gazzo)
- Affective comorbidities and sex differences in chronic orofacial pain (led by Dr G. Gazzo)
- Development of an etiological model of Burning Mouth Syndrome (led by Pr Y. Boucher)
Methodological approaches
- Behavioral assessment in rodents (anxiodepressive-like symptoms, sociability, pain sensitivity)
- Preclinical models of early-life stress
- Preclinical models of trigeminal neuropathy
- RT-qPCR
- Immunostaining
Recent publications
- Lebel A., Lescaille G., Alajbeg I., Alajbeg I., & Boucher Y. (2025). The Role of Stress in Burning Mouth Syndrome Triggered by Dental Treatments: A Two-Step Hypothesis. J Oral Rehabil., 52: 1001-1014. https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.13964
- Porporatti A.L., Schroder Â.G.D., Lebel A., Moreau N., Misery L., Alajbeg I., Braud A., & Boucher Y. (2023). Is burning mouth syndrome associated with stress? A meta-analysis. J Oral Rehabil., 50: 1279-1315. https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.13536
- Gazzo G., Melchior M., Caussaint A., Gieré C., Lelièvre V., & Poisbeau P. (2021). Overexpression of chloride importer NKCC1 contributes to the sensory-affective and sociability phenotype of rats following neonatal maternal separation. Brain Behav. Immun. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.12.010
- Kamoun N.*, Gazzo G.*, Goumon Y., Andry V., Yalcin I., & Poisbeau P. (2021). Long-lasting analgesic and neuroprotective action of the non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic etifoxine in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Neuropharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108407
Read more about the two other research axes of the group: