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Allodynia mediated by C‐tactile afferents in human hairy skin
Author(s) -
Nagi Saad S.,
Rubin Troy K.,
Chelvanayagam David K.,
Macefield Vaughan G.,
Mahns David A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.211326
Subject(s) - allodynia , medicine , stimulus (psychology) , diffuse noxious inhibitory control , neuroscience , physical stimulation , scratching , stimulation , nociceptor , nociception , hypertonic saline , sensory system , microneurography , noxious stimulus , hyperalgesia , anesthesia , psychology , baroreflex , heart rate , physics , receptor , acoustics , blood pressure , psychotherapist
Non‐technical summary What triggers a realignment of sensations, e.g. a stimulus that is perceived as non‐painful in intact skin, but evokes pain in sunburned skin, is yet to be ascertained. This phenomenon is clinically termed allodynia . We show that gentle tactile stimulation (vibration and brushing) of the hairy skin can exacerbate the underlying muscle pain (allodynia) evoked by infusion of hypertonic saline into the tibialis anterior muscle. This effect is dependent upon a low‐threshold, mechanosensitive class of nerve fibres in the hairy skin known as C‐tactile (CT) fibres. Knowledge of the role of CT fibres in allodynia increases our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie sensory‐perceptual abnormalities – a common manifestation of clinical‐pain states and neurological disorders.