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. 1991 Dec 15;88(24):11344–11348. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.24.11344

Substance P-mediated slow excitatory postsynaptic potential elicited in dorsal horn neurons in vivo by noxious stimulation.

Y De Koninck 1, J L Henry 1
PMCID: PMC53131  PMID: 1722327

Abstract

The original proposal that substance P is involved in the regulation of nociceptive information at the first sensory synapse in the spinal cord has been substantiated by a wide range of evidence, but definitive support has been lacking, due primarily to the lack of evidence that a specific nociceptive response in the dorsal horn can be blocked by a substance P antagonist. Here, we present evidence that CP-96,345, a specific substance P (NK-1) receptor antagonist, selectively blocks a slow, prolonged excitatory postsynaptic potential following noxious cutaneous stimulation or a train of intense electrical stimuli to sensory nerves but does not affect the response to innocuous input or the brief response to single electrical stimuli to C fibers. These results indicate the specific involvement of substance P in the mediation of a prolonged after-excitation to noxious stimulation. This may have important implications for the etiology and treatment of chronic pain and for plastic changes in nociceptive pathways.

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Selected References

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