scholarly journals Facial injections of pruritogens or algogens elicit distinct behavior responses in rats and excite overlapping populations of primary sensory and trigeminal subnucleus caudalis neurons

2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 1078-1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Klein ◽  
Mirela Iodi Carstens ◽  
E. Carstens

In the present study, we investigated whether intradermal cheek injection of pruritogens or algogens differentially elicits hindlimb scratches or forelimb wipes in Sprague-Dawley rats, as recently reported in mice. We also investigated responses of primary sensory trigeminal ganglion (TG) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells, as well as second-order neurons in trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc), to pruritic and algesic stimuli. 5-HT was the most effective chemical to elicit dose-dependent bouts of hindlimb scratches directed to the cheek, with significantly less forelimb wiping, consistent with itch. Chloroquine also elicited significant scratching but not wiping. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC; mustard oil) elicited dose-dependent wiping with no significant scratching. Capsaicin elicited equivalent numbers of scratch bouts and wipes, suggesting a mixed itch and pain sensation. By calcium imaging, ∼6% of cultured TG and DRG cells responded to 5-HT. The majority of 5-HT-sensitive cells also responded to chloroquine, AITC, and/or capsaicin, and one-third responded to histamine. Using a chemical search strategy, we identified single units in Vc that responded to intradermal cheek injection of 5-HT. Most were wide dynamic range (WDR) or nociceptive specific (NS), and a few were mechanically insensitive. The large majority additionally responded to AITC and/or capsaicin and thus were not pruritogen selective. These results suggest that primary and second-order neurons responsive to pruritogens and algogens may utilize a population coding mechanism to distinguish between itch and pain, sensations that are behaviorally manifested by distinct hindlimb scratching and forelimb wiping responses.

1998 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 465-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Carstens ◽  
Nicole Kuenzler ◽  
H. O. Handwerker

Carstens, E., Nicole Kuenzler, and H. O. Handwerker. Activation of neurons in rat trigeminal subnucleus caudalis by different irritant chemicals applied to oral or ocular mucosa. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 465–492, 1998. To investigate the role of trigeminal subnucleus caudalis in neural mechanisms of irritation, we recorded single-unit responses to application of a variety of irritant chemicals to the tongue or ocular mucosa in thiopental-anesthetized rats. Recordings were made from wide dynamic range (WDR) and nociceptive-specific units in superficial layers of the dorsomedial caudalis (0–3 mm caudal to obex) responsive to mechanical stimulation and noxious heating of the ipsilateral tongue (“tongue” units) and from WDR units in ventrolateral caudalis (0–2 caudal to obex) responsive to mechanical and noxious thermal stimulation of cornea-conjunctiva and frequently also surrounding skin (“cornea-conjunctival” units). The following chemicals were delivered topically (0.1 ml) onto the dorsal anterior tongue or instilled into the ipsilateral eye: capsaicin (0.001–1% = 3.3 × 10−2 to 3.3 × 10−5 M), ethanol (15–80%), histamine (0.01–10% = 9 × 10−1 to 9 × 10−4 M), mustard oil (allyl-isothiocyanate, 4–100% = 4 × 10−1 to 10 M), NaCl (0.5–5 M), nicotine (0.01–10% = 6 × 10−1 to 6 × 10−4 M), acidified phosphate buffer (pH 1–6), piperine (0.01–1% = 3.5 × 10−2 to 3.5 × 10−4 M), serotonin (5-HT; 0.3–3% = 1.4 × 10−1 to 1.4 × 10−2 M), and carbonated water. The dose-response relationship and possible tachyphylaxis were tested for each chemical. Of 32 tongue units, 31 responded to one or more, and frequently all, chemicals tested. The population responded to 75.3% of the various chemicals tested (≤10 per unit). The incidence of responses was independent of the order of chemicals tested, except for capsaicin, which reduced subsequent responses. Responses to histamine, nicotine, 5-HT, and ethanol had a more rapid onset and shorter duration compared with capsaicin, acid, and mustard oil. Responses to all chemicals increased in a dose-related manner. Successive responses to repeated application decreased significantly for nicotine, 5-HT, capsaicin, and piperine. Spontaneous firing increased significantly 5–10 min after initial application of capsaicin. Of 31 corneal-conjunctival units, 29 responded to one or more chemicals, and the population responded to 65% of all chemicals tested. Responses increased in a dose-related manner for all chemicals, and successive responses decreased significantly for histamine, nicotine, ethanol, acid, and capsaicin. Responses of tongue units to histamine and nicotine were reduced significantly by ceterizine (H1 antagonist) and mecamylamine, respectively. Mecamylamine also significantly reduced responses of corneal-conjunctival units to nicotine. Different classes of irritant chemicals contacting the oral or ocular mucosa can activate individual sensory neurons in caudalis, presumably via independent peripheral transduction mechanisms. Multireceptive units with input from the tongue or cornea-conjunctiva exhibited a similar spectrum of excitability to different irritant chemicals. Such neurons would not be capable of discriminating among different chemically evoked irritant sensations but could contribute to a common chemical sense.


2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 1742-1748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn M. Sawyer ◽  
Mirela Iodi Carstens ◽  
Christopher T. Simons ◽  
Jay Slack ◽  
T. Scott McCluskey ◽  
...  

The enigmatic sensation of tingle involves the activation of primary sensory neurons by hydroxy-α-sanshool, a tingly agent in Szechuan peppers, by inhibiting two-pore potassium channels. Central mechanisms mediating tingle sensation are unknown. We investigated whether a stable derivative of sanshool—isobutylalkenyl amide (IBA)—excites wide-dynamic range (WDR) spinal neurons that participate in transmission of chemesthetic information from the skin. In anesthetized rats, the majority of WDR and low-threshold units responded to intradermal injection of IBA in a dose-related manner over a >5-min time course and exhibited tachyphylaxis at higher concentrations (1 and 10%). Almost all WDR and low-threshold units additionally responded to the pungent agents mustard oil (allyl isothiocyanate) and/or capsaicin, prompting reclassification of the low-threshold cells as WDR. The results are discussed in terms of the functional role of WDR neurons in mediating tingle sensation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin W. Merrill ◽  
Jason M. Cuellar ◽  
Justin H. Judd ◽  
Mirela Iodi Carstens ◽  
E. Carstens

Mustard oil [allyl isothiocyanate (AITC)] and cinnamaldehyde (CA), agonists of the ion channel TRPA1 expressed in sensory neurons, elicit a burning sensation and heat hyperalgesia. We tested whether these phenomena are reflected in the responses of lumbar spinal wide-dynamic range (WDR) neurons recorded in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Responses to electrical and graded mechanical and noxious thermal stimulation were tested before and after cutaneous application of AITC or CA. Repetitive application of AITC initially increased the firing rate of 52% of units followed by rapid desensitization that persisted when AITC was reapplied 30 min later. Responses to noxious thermal, but not mechanical, stimuli were significantly enhanced irrespective of whether the neuron was directly activated by AITC. Windup elicited by percutaneous or sciatic nerve electrical stimulation was significantly reduced post-AITC. These results indicate that AITC produced central inhibition and peripheral sensitization of heat nociceptors. CA did not directly excite WDR neurons, and significantly enhanced responses to noxious heat while not affecting windup or responses to skin cooling or mechanical stimulation, indicating a peripheral sensitization of heat nociceptors.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (2) ◽  
pp. G317-G323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey B. Schwimmer ◽  
Looi Ee ◽  
Shuqin Zheng ◽  
Patrick Tso

Dietary proteins may play a role in lipid absorption. Whether amino acids are specifically involved is unknown. We hypothesized that enterally administered l-glutamine (l-Gln) given with a lipid meal increases triglyceride (TG) absorption in rats. Mesenteric lymph fistulae and gastroduodenal feeding tubes were placed in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals received an enteral bolus of Intralipid (5 ml) followed by enteral infusion of increasing concentrations of l-Gln in saline (0, 85, 170, or 340 mM) or equimolar concentrations of the inactive isomer d-Gln or an essential amino acid mixture without Gln. Lymph was collected continuously for 6 h and analyzed for TG content. Animals infused with 85 mM l-Gln had a 64% increase in total TG output vs. controls ( P < 0.05) despite no difference in lymph flow rate. Total TG output for animals infused with 340 mMl-Gln declined by 43% vs. controls ( P < 0.05). The effect of Gln in promoting lymphatic fat transport is specific to l-Gln and not shared by d-Gln or an equivalent amino acid mixture. l-Gln is capable of either promoting or impairing lymphatic TG transport in a dose-dependent manner.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 1565-1581
Author(s):  
S Iqbal ◽  
F Jabeen ◽  
C Peng ◽  
MU Ijaz ◽  
AS Chaudhry

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) have been widely used in various industries related to electronics, ceramics, textiles, and nanomedicine. Ambient and occupational exposure to Ni-NPs may bring about potential detrimental effects on animals and humans. Thus, there is a growing effort to identify compounds that can ameliorate NPs-associated pathophysiologies. The present study examined Cinnamomum cassia ( C. cassia) bark extracts (CMBE) for its ameliorative activity against Ni-NPs-induced pathophysiological and histopathological alterations in male Sprague Dawley rats. The biochemical analyses revealed that dosing rats with Ni-NPs at 10 mg/kg/body weight (b.w.) significantly altered the normal structural and biochemical adaptations in the liver and kidney. Conversely, supplementations with CMBE at different doses (225, 200, and 175 mg/kg/b.w. of rat) ameliorated the altered blood biochemistry and reduced the biomarkers of liver and kidney function considerably ( p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. However, the best results were at 225 mg/kg/b.w. of rat. The study provided preliminary information about the protective effect of C. cassia against Ni-NPs indicated liver and kidney damages. Future investigations are needed to explore C. cassia mechanism of action and isolation of single constituents of C. cassia to assess their pharmaceutical importance accordingly.


1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.B. Holmes

The effect on circulating platelet count of repeated intravenous infusions of collagen fibrils was measured in male OFA Sprague-Dawley rats (400-550 g). Citrated blood was pumped from the left carotid artery of anaesthetized animals, via a siliconized double-lumen cannula, into the manifold of a Technicon Autocounter, for continuous registration of platelet count. Native collagen fibrils (Collagenreagent ‘Horm’) were infused intravenously for 1 min at 15 min intervals. Successive increasing collagen doses (20-320 pg/kg) induced dose-dependent reduction in platelet count, measured as absolute platelet number disappearing from the circulation. Repeated infusion of collagen 160 pg/kg produced constant, partially reversible, reduction in platelet count. Several known inhibitors of platelet aggregation were investigated in the described test system. Collagen effects were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner to a maximum of 50-60 %, and drug activity was thus quantitated on the basis of dose producing 30 % inhibition (ID30): prostaglandin E1 (1.6 pg/kg/min i.v. infusion), SH-869 (1.1 mg/kg i.v.), aspirin (33.1 mg/kg p.o.), proquazone, a new non-steroidal antiinflammatory compound (5.0 mg/kg p.o.). That part of the collagen response not inhibited might be attributed to the initial phase of platelet adhesion to collagen, known to be relatively refractive to platelet function inhibitors.


1983 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco Zunino ◽  
Odoardo Tofanetti ◽  
Adriana Besati ◽  
Ennio Cavalletti ◽  
Giuseppina Savi

Pretreatment of Swiss mice and Sprague-Dawley rats with glutathione (GSH) reduced the acute lethal toxicity of cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) (cis-DDP) in a dose-dependent manner. The protection was accompanied by reduction of both body weight loss and by reduction of nephrotoxicity, as measured by a rise in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine levels and by histopathologic changes, which occurred 4 days following cis-DDP treatment. The antitumor effects of cis-DDP on experimental tumor models (P388 and Gross leukemia) were not significantly altered by GSH treatment. It is suggested that the partial protection by GSH from acute toxicity of the antitumor drug is directly related to protection of renal function.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2744
Author(s):  
Anna Polosa ◽  
Shasha Lv ◽  
Wassila Ait Igrine ◽  
Laura-Alexie Chevrolat ◽  
Hyba Bessaklia ◽  
...  

To unravel the mechanisms behind the higher resistance to light damage of juvenile (JR) versus adult (AR) rats, Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to a bright luminous environment of 10, 000 lux. The light-induced retinopathy (LIR) was assessed with histology, electroretinography and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In JR, 2 days of exposure induced the typical LIR, while >3 days added little LIR. IHC revealed a subtle migration of microglia (Iba1 marker) from the inner to the outer retina after 3 days of exposure in JR contrasting with the stronger reaction seen after 1 day in AR. Similarly, in JR, the Müller cells expressed less intense GFAP, CNTF and FGF2 staining compared to AR. Our results suggest that in JR the degree of retinal damage is not proportional to the duration of light exposure (i.e., dose-independent retinopathy), contrasting with the dose-dependent LIR reported in AR. The immature immune system in JR may explain the delayed and/or weaker inflammatory response compared to AR, a finding that would also point to the devastating contribution of the immune system in generating the LIR phenotype, a claim also advanced to explain the pathophysiology of other retinal degenerative disorders such as Age-related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinitis Pigmentosa.


1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 1191-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil E. Farber ◽  
Christopher P. Harkin ◽  
Jennifer Niedfeldt ◽  
Antal G. Hudetz ◽  
John P. Kampine ◽  
...  

Background Volatile anesthetics are potent cerebral vasodilators. Although the predominant site of cerebrovascular resistance is attributed to intracerebral arterioles, no studies have compared the actions of volatile anesthetics on intraparenchymal microvessels. The authors compared the effects of halothane and isoflurane on intracerebral arteriolar responsiveness in hippocampal and neocortical microvessels using a brain slice preparation. Method After Institutional Review Board approval, hippocampal or neocortical brain slices were prepared from anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats and placed in a perfusion-recording chamber, superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Arteriolar diameters were monitored with videomicroscopy before, during, and after halothane or isoflurane were equilibrated in the perfusate. PGF2alpha preconstricted vessels before anesthetic administration. A blinded observer using a computerized videomicrometer analyzed diameter changes. Results Baseline microvessel diameter and the degree of preconstriction were not different between groups. In the hippocampus, the volatile agents produced similar, concentration-dependent dilation (expressed as percent of preconstricted control +/- SEM) of 68 +/- 6% and 79 +/- 9% (1 MAC) and 120 +/- 3% and 109 +/- 5% (2 MAC) (P &lt; 0.05) during halothane and isoflurane, respectively. In the cerebral cortex, isoflurane caused significantly less vasodilation than did similar MAC levels of halothane (84 +/- 9% vs. 42 +/- 5% dilation at 1 MAC; 121 +/- 4% vs. 83 +/- 5% dilation at 2 MAC halothane vs. isoflurane, respectively). Conclusion Halothane and isoflurane differentially produce dose-dependent dilation of intraparenchymal cerebral microvessels. These findings suggest that local effects of the volatile anesthetics on intracerebral microvessel diameter contribute significantly to alterations in cerebrovascular resistance and support previously described heterogeneous actions on cerebral blood flow produced by these agents.


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