King CD, Baker B, Gu JG, Vierck CJ, Yezierski RP (2004) Behavioral evidence for a capsaicin-sensitive inhibitory pathway (CSIP): A novel modulatory role for substance P. Neuroscience 2004 Abstracts 292.18. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Exposure to noxious thermal stimulation or application of capsaicin cream causes the release of SP from capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent terminals that activate neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) expressing neurons in the superficial dorsal horn. Recent evidence suggests the existence of a capsaicin-sensitive inhibitory pathway (CSIP), a novel inhibitory mechanism that involves NK1R expressing neurons in laminae III-V. To determine the functional significance of these NK1R expressing neurons, substance P-saporin neurotoxin (SP-SAP) was used to ablate NK1R neurons in the superficial laminae. Elimination of the NK1R neurons in this region made it possible to evaluate the modulatory effects of NK1R expressing inhibitory neurons in deeper laminae. Reflexive responses were evaluated in rats during a 10-minute trial at 44.5°C before (pre-) and 14 days after (post-) intrathecal injection of 350ng SP-SAP. Testing conditions included: 1) baseline; 2) hindpaw application of 1% capsaicin cream; and, 3) intrathecal injection of the NK1 antagonist CP-97,345 following hindpaw application of 1% capsaicin cream. In normal rats, hindpaw application of capsaicin produced thermal hyperalgesia. In contrast, application of capsaicin produced a hypoalgesia in the same rats after treatment with SP-SAP. The capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia in normal rats was blocked by CP-97,345. The antagonist also blocked the capsaicin-induced hypoalgesia in SP-SAP rats. In conclusion, it is suggested that substance P activates inhibitory interneurons in the deep dorsal horn. The inhibitory effect initiated by substance P on pain transmission neurons represents a novel role of substance P in the spinal processing of nociceptive information.
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