Mammals exposed to a cold environment initially generate heat by repetitive muscle activity (shivering). Shivering is successively replaced by the recruitment of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1)-dependent heat production in brown adipose tissue. Interestingly, adaptations observed in skeletal muscles of cold-exposed animals are similar to those observed with endurance training. We hypothesized that increased myoplasmic free [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) is important for these adaptations. To test this hypothesis, experiments were performed on flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscles, which do not participate in the shivering response, of adult wild-type (WT) and UCP1-ablated (UCP1-KO) mice kept either at room temperature (24 ºC) or cold-acclimated (4 ºC) for 4-5 weeks. [Ca2+]i (measured with indo-1) and force were measured under control conditions and during fatigue induced by repeated tetanic stimulation in intact single fibres. The results show no differences between fibres from WT and UCP1-KO mice. However, muscle fibres from cold-acclimated mice showed significant increases in basal [Ca2+]i (~50%), tetanic [Ca2+]i (~40%), and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak (~four-fold) as compared to fibres from room-temperature mice. Muscles of cold-acclimated mice showed increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and increased citrate synthase activity (reflecting increased mitochondrial content). Fibres of cold-acclimated mice were more fatigue resistant with higher tetanic [Ca2+]i and less force loss during fatiguing stimulation. In conclusion, cold exposure induces changes in FDB muscles similar to those observed with endurance training and we propose that increased [Ca2+]i is a key factor underlying these adaptations.

KEY POINTS: L-type calcium channels in the CNS exist as two subunit forming channels, Cav1.2 and Cav1.3, which are involved in short- and long-term plasticity. We demonstrate that Cav1.3 but not Cav1.2 is essential for wind-up. These results identify Cav1.3 as a key conductance responsible for short-term sensitization in physiological pain transmission. We confirm the role of Cav1.2 in a model of long-term plasticity associated with neuropathic pain. Up-regulation of Cav1.2 and down-regultation of Cav1.3 in neuropathic pain underlies the switch from physiology to pathology. Finally, the results of the present study reveal that therapeutic targeting molecular pathways involved in wind-up may be not relevant in the treatment of neuropathy.

ABSTRACT: Short-term central sensitization to pain temporarily increases the responsiveness of nociceptive pathways after peripheral injury. In dorsal horn neurons (DHNs), short-term sensitization can be monitored through the study of wind-up. Wind-up, a progressive increase in DHNs response following repetitive peripheral stimulations, depends on the post-synaptic L-type calcium channels. In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, two L-type calcium channels are present, Cav1.2 and Cav1.3, each displaying specific kinetics and spatial distribution. In the present study, we used a mathematical model of DHNs in which we integrated the specific patterns of expression of each Cav subunits. This mathematical approach reveals that Cav1.3 is necessary for the onset of wind-up, whereas Cav1.2 is not and that synaptically triggered wind-up requires NMDA receptor activation. We then switched to a biological preparation in which we knocked down Cav subunits and confirmed the prominent role of Cav1.3 in both naive and spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathy (SNL). Interestingly, although a clear mechanical allodynia dependent on Cav1.2 expression was observed after SNL, the amplitude of wind-up was decreased. These results were confirmed with our model when adapting Cav1.3 conductance to the changes observed after SNL. Finally, our mathematical approach predicts that, although wind-up amplitude is decreased in SNL, plateau potentials are not altered, suggesting that plateau and wind-up are not fully equivalent. Wind-up and long-term hyperexcitability of DHNs are differentially controlled by Cav1.2 and Cav1.3, therefore confirming that short- and long-term sensitization are two different phenomena triggered by distinct mechanisms.