title: Systemic lidocaine silences ectopic neuroma and DRG discharge without blocking nerve conduction.
abstract: Systemic application of lidocaine in rats suppressed ectopic impulse discharge generated both at sites of experimental nerve injury and in axotomized dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. ED50 for DRGs was significantly lower than for the injury site. Lidocaine doses effective at blocking ectopic discharge failed to block the initiation or propagation of impulses by electrical stimulation, and only minimally affected normal sensory receptors. This selectivity may account for the effectiveness of systemic local anesthetics and other drugs that share the same mechanism of action (notably certain anticonvulsants and antiarrhythmics), in the management of neuropathic paresthesias and pain. In addition, it may account for the prolonged analgesia sometimes obtained using regional local anesthetic block.
authors.affiliation: Neurobehavior Unit, Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904 Israel Cerebral Functions Group, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT U.K.
authors.forename: Marshall
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devor
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Naor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Catalan
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009463:Neuroma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine