Life sciences
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Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) and transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) are co-localized in the primary afferents, and the trans-activation of TRPV1 by PAR2 activation is involved in processing of somatic pain. Given evidence for contribution of PAR2 to pancreatic pain, the present study aimed at clarifying the involvement of TRPV1 in processing of pancreatic pain by the proteinase/PAR2 pathway in mice. ⋯ Our data thus suggest that the proteinase/PAR2/TRPV1 cascade might impact pancreatic pain, in addition to somatic pain, and play a role in the maintenance of pancreatitis-related pain in mice.
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Comparative Study
Intrathecal gabapentin and clonidine synergistically inhibit allodynia in spinal nerve-ligated rats.
The objective of this study was to elucidate the interaction between intrathecally administered gabapentin and clonidine on neuropathic pain associated with allodynia in the spinal nerve ligation model in the rat. ⋯ In the L5 spinal nerve-ligated rats, the intrathecal co-administration of gabapentin and clonidine exerted a synergistic action on the mechanical antiallodynic effect.
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In the present work we investigated the in vitro effects of phytanic acid (Phyt), that accumulates in Refsum disease and other peroxisomal diseases, on important parameters of oxidative stress in cerebellum and cerebral cortex from young rats. ⋯ Our data indicate that oxidative stress is elicited in vitro by Phyt, a mechanism that may contribute at least in part to the pathophysiology of Refsum disease and other peroxisomal disorders where Phyt is accumulated.
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Postnatal nicotine exposure causes precocious primary hypothyroidism and programs for overweight, hyperleptinemia and secondary hypothyroidism in adulthood. As leptin and thyroid hormones share the ability to increase energy expenditure, we studied the effects of maternal nicotine exposure during lactation on the leptin signaling in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis of suckling and adult offspring. ⋯ Neonatal primary hypothyroidism induced by maternal nicotine exposure during lactation may be partially explained by decreased leptin signaling in the thyroid, though the early stimulation of the central leptin pathway did not prevent the thyroid dysfunction. Long-term effects of postnatal nicotine exposure on leptin signaling in the hypothalamus and thyroid appear to involve central and peripheral leptin resistance in adulthood.
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Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is released from injured tissue and cancer cells and is involved in the induction of neuropathic pain. The present study explores whether LPA plays a role in the development of osteocarcinoma-induced pain. ⋯ These data indicate that LPA is involved in the induction of bone cancer pain through mechanisms of peripheral C-fibers sensitization. LPA and its downstream molecules possibly are promising therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer pain.