Abstract
Substance P is released in the spinal cord in response to painful stimuli, but its role in nociceptive signaling remains unclear. When a conjugate of substance P and the ribosome-inactivating protein saporin was infused into the spinal cord, it was internalized and cytotoxic to lamina I spinal cord neurons that express the substance P receptor. This treatment left responses to mild noxious stimuli unchanged, but markedly attenuated responses to highly noxious stimuli and mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Thus, lamina I spinal cord neurons that express the substance P receptor play a pivotal role in the transmission of highly noxious stimuli and the maintenance of hyperalgesia.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Capsaicin
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Cell Membrane / metabolism
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Cells, Cultured
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique
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Hyperalgesia / physiopathology
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Hyperalgesia / therapy*
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Immunotoxins*
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Injections, Spinal
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N-Glycosyl Hydrolases*
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Pain / physiopathology
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Pain Management*
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Pain Measurement
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Plant Proteins / metabolism
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Plant Proteins / pharmacology
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / biosynthesis
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Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / metabolism*
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Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1
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Saporins
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Signal Transduction
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Spinal Cord / cytology*
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Spinal Cord / metabolism
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Substance P / metabolism*
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Substance P / pharmacology
Substances
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Immunotoxins
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Plant Proteins
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Receptors, Neurokinin-1
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Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1
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Substance P
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N-Glycosyl Hydrolases
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Saporins
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Capsaicin