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Chemosensitivity and mechanosensitivity of nociceptors from incised rat hindpaw skin
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Chemosensitivity and mechanosensitivity of nociceptors from incised rat hindpaw skin

Sinyoung Kang and Timothy J Brennan
Anesthesiology (Philadelphia), Vol.111(1), pp.155-164
07/2009
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a16443
PMCID: PMC2737702
PMID: 19512876
url
https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181a16443View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The authors have demonstrated a decrease in pH in the incisional wound environment, suggesting a possible contribution of low pH to postsurgical pain. In this study, the authors characterized the acid-responsiveness of nociceptors innervating the plantar aspect of the rat hind paw 1 day after plantar incision and compared this to plantar skin from unincised control rats. Using the rat glabrous in vitro skin-tibial nerve preparation, afferent nerve activities from single mechanosensitive nociceptors were recorded. Differences in mechanosensitivity, spontaneous activity, and chemosensitivity of units were evaluated. For chemosensitivity, acid-responsiveness of nociceptors to lactic acid (pH 5.5 to 6.5) was studied. C-fibers showed dose-dependent, sustained responses to lactic acid. A greater proportion of C-fibers from 2 mm or less from the incision was activated by pH 6.0 lactic acid (52.9%) compared to control (14.3%). Total evoked potentials during acid exposure were greater in C-fibers innervating 2 mm or less from the incision compared to those in unincised skin. The prevalence of acid responses and total evoked potentials during acid exposure in C-fibers innervating more than 2 mm from the incision were not different from control. Few A-fibers responded to lactic acid, with a range of pH 5.5 to 6.5 in both incision and control groups. Increased spontaneous activity and mechanosensitivity were also evident. C-fibers in the vicinity of the incision showed qualitatively and quantitatively greater chemosensitivity to pH 6.0 lactic acid compared to control. This change was localized to 2 mm or less from the incision, suggesting increased chemosensitivity of nociceptive C-fibers 1 day after plantar incision.
Skin Physiological Phenomena Pain Measurement - methods Animals Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated - physiology Mechanoreceptors - physiology Hindlimb - physiology Nociceptors - physiology Rats Hindlimb - innervation Male Chemoreceptor Cells - physiology Rats, Sprague-Dawley

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