Several lines of evidence indicate that Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation can depress sensory transmission. We have reported the expression of Group II mGluRs on unmyelinated axons, many of which were presumed to be nociceptors, in the rat digital nerve (Carlton et al., 2001b). The goals of the present study are to further our understanding of Group II modulation of nociceptor processing in the periphery, documenting behavioral changes using inflammatory models and documenting, for the first time, cutaneous single fiber activity following exposure to a Group II agonist (2R,4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (APDC) and antagonist LY341495 (LY). The data indicate that peripheral Group II mGluR activation does not depress nociceptive behaviors or nociceptor fiber responses in the non-sensitized state (i.e. following brief nociceptive mechanical or thermal stimulation) but can depress these responses when nociceptors are sensitized by exposure to formalin or inflammatory soup. Group II mGluR agonist-induced inhibition can be blocked by a selective Group II antagonist. Peripheral Group II mGluR-induced inhibition evoked in these studies occurs through activation of local receptors and not through spinal or supraspinal mechanisms. The data indicate that administration of selective Group II agonists may be potent therapeutic agents for prevention of peripheral sensitization and for treatment of inflammatory pain.
KeywordsGroup II mGluR; pain; APDC; LY341495; formalin; inflammation; inflammatory soup Glutamate and glutamate receptors play an important role in peripheral pain mechanisms in animals (Carlton, 2001;Carlton et al., 2003) and humans (McNearney et al., 1999;McNearney et al., 2000;Cairns et al., 2001;Alfredson et al., 2001;Alfredson and Lorentzon, 2002;Svensson et al., 2003;Cairns et al., 2003). To date, ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) including N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors are implicated in peripheral cutaneous pain mechanisms Bleakman et al., 2006).More recent studies indicate that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) can modulate peripheral nociceptor function. In contrast to iGluRs, which are ligand-gated ion channel receptors, mGluRs mediate their function via G-protein coupled receptors which trigger Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
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Author ManuscriptNeuroscience. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2009 June 23.
NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript intracellular second-messenger systems (Pin and Duvoisin, 1995). Accordin...