Peripheral pain fiber function is relatively insensitive to the neurotoxic actions of acrylamide in the rat.
Acrylamide causes degeneration of sensory nerve axons in a range of experimental animals and in humans. Evidence of selective vulnerability of large diameter fibers has been derived largely from histological and electrophysiological measurements. We have examined the effect of repeated doses of acrylamide on the function of small diameter peripheral pain fibers in rats by measuring the intensity of neurogenic edema initiated by chemosensitive nerve endings and assessing the sensitivity of the hind paws to a noxious stimulus. These effects have been compared to the impaired sensorimotor performance (landing foot spread) resulting from acrylamide treatment and the change in functional integrity of the pain fibers following surgical lesioning of the sciatic nerves. Our results show that the selective vulnerability of large over small diameter sensory fibers previously reported in the literature is reflected in the differential impairment of proprioceptive and pain-related functions in the rat.
Edwards
P M
PM
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Boğaziçi University, Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sporel-Ozakat
R E
RE
Gispen
W H
WH
D020106:Acrylamide; D000178:Acrylamides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000178:Acrylamides; D020106:Acrylamide