Quickly responding C-fibre nociceptors contribute to heat hypersensitivity in the area of secondary hyperalgesia

被引:16
作者
Lenoir, Cedric [1 ]
Plaghki, Leon [1 ]
Mouraux, Andre [1 ]
van den Broeke, Emanuel N. [1 ]
机构
[1] Catholic Univ Louvain, Inst Neurosci, Brussels, Belgium
来源
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON | 2018年 / 596卷 / 18期
基金
欧洲研究理事会;
关键词
high frequency stimulation; C-fiber nociceptors; hyperalgesia; FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION; LONG-TERM POTENTIATION; HUMAN SKIN; CENTRAL SENSITIZATION; BRAIN POTENTIALS; CUTANEOUS WARM; SURFACE-AREAS; EEG RESPONSES; PAIN; AFFERENTS;
D O I
10.1113/JP275977
中图分类号
Q189 [神经科学];
学科分类号
071006 ;
摘要
It has recently been shown that high frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of C-fibres induces a gliogenic heterosynaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) at the spinal cord in animals, which has been hypothesized to be the underlying mechanism of secondary hyperalgesia in humans. Here we tested this hypothesis using a method to predominantly activate quickly responding C-fibre nociceptors in the area of secondary hyperalgesia induced by HFS in humans. HFS was delivered to one of the two volar forearms in 18 healthy volunteers. Before, 20 min and 45 min after HFS, short-lasting (10 ms) high-intensity CO2 laser heat stimuli delivered to a very small area of the skin (0.15 mm(2)) were applied to the area of increased mechanical pinprick sensitivity at the HFS-treated arm and the homologous area of the contralateral control arm. During heat stimulation the electroencephalogram, reaction times and intensity of perception (numerical rating scale 0-100) were measured. After HFS, we observed a greater heat sensitivity, an enhancement in the number of detected trials, faster reaction times and an enhancement of the N2 wave of C-fibre laser-evoked potentials at the HFS-treated arm compared to the control arm. This is the first study that confirms in humans the involvement of C-fibre nociceptors in enhanced heat sensitivity in the area of secondary mechanical hyperalgesia induced by HFS.
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页码:4443 / 4455
页数:13
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