Experimental neurology
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Experimental neurology · Apr 2011
Comparative StudySex-related differences in descending norepinephrine and serotonin controls of spinal withdrawal reflex during intramuscular saline induced muscle nociception in rats.
Sex-associated differences in the perception and modulation of pain have widely been reported in humans as well as animals. The aim of the present study performed in conscious rats of both sexes was to systematically investigate the role of sex in endogenous descending controls of nociceptive paw withdrawal reflex during experimental muscle pain elicited by intramuscular (i.m.) injection with different doses (0.1-0.4 ml of 0.9-5.8%) of saline. Ipsilateral i.m. injection of 0.2-0.4 ml, but not 0.1 ml, isotonic (0.9%, IT) saline elicited long lasting (about 7d), secondary and contralateral mechanical hyperalgesia in female rats, whereas male rats exhibited a bilateral, short-term (less than 1d) mechanical hyperalgesia only during the exposure to 0.4 ml IT saline injection (P < 0.05). ⋯ In conclusion, sex-related differences are important in descending modulations of pain and anesthesia. Less noxious stimuli could activate descending inhibition in males but not females, whereas less noxious afferents may elicit descending facilitation in female, but not male rats. Central noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways are differently involved in the action of descending modulations of nociception in rats of both sexes.
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Experimental neurology · Apr 2011
Lesion of cholinergic neurons in nucleus basalis enhances response to general anesthetics.
Acetylcholine in the brain has been associated with consciousness and general anesthesia effects. We tested the hypothesis that the integrity of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) affects the response to general anesthetics. Cholinergic neurons in NBM were selectively lesioned by bilateral infusion of 192IgG-saporin in adult, male Long-Evans rats, and control rats were infused with saline. ⋯ However, the behavioral excitation, as indicated by horizontal movements, induced by halothane was reduced in lesioned as compared to control rats. Reversible inactivation of NBM with GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol increased slow waves in the neocortex during awake immobility, and prolonged the duration of LORR and loss of tail-pinch response after propofol, pentobarbital and halothane. In summary, lesion of NBM cholinergic neurons or inactivation of the NBM prolonged the LORR response to general anesthetic drugs.