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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-8-24
pubmed:abstractText
Calcium influx through N-type calcium channels mediates synaptic transmission at numerous central synapses and transduces nociceptive information in the spinal dorsal horn. However, the precise role of N-type calcium channels in pain perception is not fully elucidated. To address this issue, we generated and analyzed knockout mice for alpha(1B,) the pore-forming subunit of the N-type calcium channel. Homozygous mutants are viable, fertile, and show normal motor coordination. In small-diameter dorsal root ganglion neurons from mutants the density of calcium channel currents is significantly reduced, which can be accounted for by the abolition of N-type currents. We performed several pain-related behavioral tests using the mutant mice. alpha(1B)-Deficient mice show reduced response to mechanical stimuli in the von Frey test and increased tail flick latency in response to radiant heat, indicating altered spinal reflexes. However, pain response in the hot plate test is normal. In the formalin paw test, the mutant mice exhibit significantly attenuated response in Phase 2, but normal pain behaviors in Phase 1. The response to visceral inflammatory pain caused by acetic acid is also reduced in alpha(1B) knockout mice. These results suggest that the alpha(1B) subunit of N-type calcium channel plays a major role in pain perception by acting at the spinal level, but not at the supraspinal level.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
1044-7431
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
18
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
235-45
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Behavior, Animal, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Calcium Channel Blockers, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Calcium Channels, N-Type, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Electric Stimulation, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Ganglia, Spinal, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Hyperalgesia, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Inflammation, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Membrane Potentials, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Mice, Knockout, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Neurons, Afferent, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Nociceptors, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Pain, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Pain Measurement, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Pain Threshold, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Physical Stimulation, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Reaction Time, pubmed-meshheading:11520183-Spinal Cord
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Altered nociceptive response in mice deficient in the alpha(1B) subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel.
pubmed:affiliation
National CRI Center for Calcium and Learning, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 790-784, Korea
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't