We are interested in the affective consequences of neuropathic pain. We recently modeled and characterized the affective consequences of neuropathic pain in a preclinical murine model, and demonstrated that these affective consequences evolve and worsen over time. We are currently working on the functional and structural alterations of the central nervous system circuits possibly involved in regulating the emotional consequences of neuropathic pain. Based on the human neuroimaging studies, we are focusing our research on limbic structures such as the anterior cingulate cortex, the amygdala and the hippocampus by using neuronatomical and behavioral approaches as well as genomic and proteomic analyses.

5 Selected Publications

Bohren Y., Tessier LH., Petitjean H., Daniel D., Hugel S., Hein L., Schlichter R., Freund Mercier MJ., Yalcin I., Barrot M. (2013) Antidepressant drug relieves neuropathic pain by a peripheral β2-adrenoceptor mediated anti-TNF-α mechanism in mouse model. Neurobiol. Dis., doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.08.012. Epub 2013 Aug 23.

Yalcin I., Charlet A., Cordero-Erausquin M., Tessier LH., Picciotto MR., Schlichter R., Poisbeau P., Freund-Mercier MJ., Barrot M. (2011) Nociceptive thresholds are controlled through spinal beta2-subunit-containing nicotinic acethylcholine receptors. Pain, 152 (9) : 2131-7.

Yalcin I., Bohren Y., Waltisperger E., Sage-Ciocca D., Yin JC., Freund-Mercier MJ., Barrot M. (2011) A time-dependent history of mood disorders in a murine model of neuropathic pain. Biol. Psychiatry, 70 (10) : 946-53.

Yalcin I., Choucair-Jaafar N., Benbouzid M., Tessier LH., Muller A., Hein L., Freund-Mercier MJ., Barrot M. (2009) β2-adrenoceptors are critical for antidepressant treatment of neuropathic pain. Ann. Neurol., 65 (2) : 218-25.

Benbouzid M., Gavériaux-Ruff C., Yalcin I., Waltisperger E., Tessier LH., Muller A., Kieffer BL., Freund-Mercier MJ., Barrot M. (2008) δ-opioid receptors are critical for tricyclic antidepressant treatment of neuropathic allodynia. Biol. Psychiatry, 63 (6) : 633-6.

Awards, Fellowships and Honours

2013            Academy of Alsace, Scientific award
2012            NARSAD Young Investigator award
2011            Scientific Excellence Award (CNRS) (until 2014)
2004            PhD fellowship, Embassy of France in Turkey (until 2006)

• Neuropathic pain and its treatments
• Neuropathic pain and its emotional consequences
• Mood disorders
• Behavior and behavioral models & tests