title: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide produces a marked and long-lasting depression of a C-fibre-evoked flexion reflex.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) is a novel vasoactive intestinal peptide-like peptide. It has a neuronal localization and occurs in two forms, PACAP-38 and the C-terminally truncated PACAP-27. In a recent report we described a dense accumulation of PACAP-27-immunoreactive nerve fibres in the superficial layer of the dorsal horn in the spinal cord and a few PACAP-27-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies in the spinal ganglia in the rat. Double-immunostaining showed that immunoreactive PACAP-27 occurred in a subpopulation of the calcitonin gene related peptide/substance P-containing cell bodies and fibres. In this study, PACAP-27 (0.47-0.63 pmol) given intrathecally produced a significant and long-lasting suppression of C-fibre-evoked flexion reflex produced by the electrical stimulation of the plantar nerve and recorded as a reflex discharge in the peroneal nerve. With a higher dose, 1.25 pmol, the magnitude of the response was not increased further but the effect became longer-lasting. PACAP-38 and vasoactive intestinal peptide were tested in doses up to 5 pmol and produced a significant and, in the case of PACAP-38, long-lasting suppression of the spinal flexion reflex. PACAP-27 seemed to be much more potent than PACAP-38 and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Intrathecal PACAP-27 was without effect on the monosynaptic stretch reflex (evoked by electrical stimulation of the gastrocnemius nerve and recorded as a reflex discharge in the sciatic nerve), suggesting that its effect on the flexion reflex is specific.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Malm o General Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sjölund
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Håkanson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sundler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D012023:Reflex, Monosynaptic / Q000187:drug effects; D012026:Reflex, Stretch / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide