title: Modulation of pain perception in man by a vasopressin analogue.
abstract: The aim of the present experiment was to test whether vasopressin modulates pain perception in man. Twenty-four male volunteers participated in four sessions, each 2 weeks apart. After an adaptation session the subjects were treated intranasally with either 30 or 60 micrograms desmopressin (DDAVP) or placebo according to a cross-over double-blind design. Pain induction involved mechanical, thermal, and ischemic stimulation DDAVP had no unitary effects on pain perception in the different pain tests. The 30 micrograms dose induced sensitization to thermal stimuli. Neither treatment influenced ischemic pain perception. The mechanical pain threshold of the index finger was increased by the 60 micrograms dose only. After treatment with either dosage of DDAVP the subjects generally tolerated the pressure on their index finger for a longer time than after placebo treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Psychologie der Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pause
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fehm-Wolfsdorf
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007511:Ischemia; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010465:Perception / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; D006854:Hydrocortisone