Sex differences in the role of atypical PKC within the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse hyperalgesic priming model.

•Intra-BLA ZIP, a cell-permeable inhibitor of aPKC, attenuated hyperalgesic priming induced by plantar incision in both sexes.•Priming upregulated aPKC in the BLA only in male mice.•Deficits in hyperalgesic priming were only seen in male Prkcz−/− mice.•Pep2m, a peptide that interferes GluA2 AMPA receptors, reduced priming in both male and female mice.•GluA2 expression was upregulated in the BLA of male and female primed mice.•GluA2 in the BLA is crucial for the initiation of both reflexive and affective pain-related behaviors in both sexes.