Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating condition,and the pain easily spreads to other parts of the face.Here,we established a mouse model of partial transection of the infraorbital nerve(pT-ION)and found that the Connexin 36(Cx36)inhibitor mefloquine caused greater alleviation of pT-ION-induced cold allodynia compared to the reduction of mechanical allodynia.Mefloquine reversed the pT-ION-induced upregulation of Cx36,glutamate receptor ionotropic kainate 2(GluK2),transient receptor potential ankyrin 1(TRPA1),and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase(p-ERK)in the trigeminal ganglion.Cold allodynia but not mechanical allodynia induced by pT-ION or by virus-mediated overexpression of Cx36 in the trigeminal ganglion was reversed by the GluK2 antagonist NS 102,and knocking down Cx36 expression in Nav 1.8-expressing nociceptors by injecting virus into the orofacial skin area of Navl.8-Cre mice attenuated cold allodynia but not mechanical allodynia.In conclusion,we show that Cx36 contributes greatly to the development of orofacial pain hypersensitivity through GluK2,TRPA1,and p-ERK signaling.