Dataset for "Mrgprb4-lineage neurons indispensable in pressure induced pleasant sensation are polymodal"
Description
The Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor b4 (Mrgprb4) neurons in dorsal root ganglia and fibers in hairy skin, were known to be involved in massage-like stimulation induced conditioned place preference and mediate dopamine release and female receptive posture during sexual activities. They were considered to be activated by soft brush stroking, innocuous or noxious mechanical stimuli. How Mrgprb4-lineage neurons encode diverse somatic inputs remains unclear. In this research, a new behavioral paradigm (Mild Pressure Conditioned Place Preference, MP-CPP) was conducted to evaluate the indispensability of Mrgprb4-lineage neurons in the pleasantness caused by pressure on the nape. Control mice earned higher CPP score in pressure-paired compartment than Mrgprb4-lineage neurons ablation mice. Ablation mice lost the preference for pressure-paired compartment. We investigated the response patterns and coding characteristics of the Mrgprb4-lineage neurons to diverse somatic stimuli. The results showed that the number of Mrgprb4-lineage neurons activated by pressure was significantly higher than that of brush and pinch. The Ca2+ transients activated by pressure and brush were higher than that of noxious pinch. Noxious 50°C and 0°C stimulation activated more Mrgprb4-lineage neurons than that of innocuous 15°C or 43°C. The Ca2+ fluorescence to 50°C, 0°C, and 43°C stimuli was also more robust than 15°C. Further analysis of the co-activating mechanosensitive and thermosensitive polymodal neurons showed that pressure evoked higher fluorescence than that of 0°C and 43°C. Our results suggest that Mrgprb4-lineage neurons are needed to transmit pleasant sensation. Mrgprb4-lineage neurons are functional polymodality, with coding preferences for pressure or bush and 50°C or 0°C.