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Effects of spinally delivered N‐ and P‐type voltage‐dependent calcium channel antagonists on dorsal horn neuronal responses in a rat model for neuropathy. (Department of Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom) Pain. 2001;92:233–246.
Author(s) -
Matthews Elizabeth A.,
Dickenson Anthony H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1046/j.1533-2500.2001.1039_20.x
Subject(s) - allodynia , medicine , neuropathic pain , nociception , neuroscience , nerve injury , electrophysiology , voltage dependent calcium channel , calcium channel , sciatic nerve , noxious stimulus , anesthesia , hyperalgesia , postsynaptic potential , peripheral nerve injury , pharmacology , calcium , receptor , psychology
Neuropathic pain, due to peripheral nerve damage, can include allodynia (perception of innocuous stimuli as being painful), hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to noxious stimuli) and spontaneous pain, often accompanied by sensory deficits. Plasticity in transmission and modulatory systems are implicated in the underlying mechanisms. The Kin and Chung rodent model of neuropathy employed involved unilateral tight ligation of 2 (L5 and L6) of the 3 (L4, L5, and L6) spinal nerves of the sciatic nerve and reproducibly induced mechanical and cold allodynia in the ipsilateral hindpaw over the 14 day postoperative period. In vivo electrophysiological techniques have then been used to record the response of dorsal horn neurones to innocuous and noxious electrical and natural (mechanical and thermal) stimuli after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Activation of voltage‐dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) is critical for neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability, and antagonists can be antinociceptive. Here, for the first time, the effect of N‐type and P‐type VDCC antagonists (ω‐conotoxin‐GVIA and ω‐agatoxin‐IVA, respectively) on the evoked dorsal horn neuronal responses after neuropathy have been investigated. Conclude both presynaptic and postsynaptic VDCCs appear to be important.