title: Reduced nociceptive behavior in islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) knockout mice.
abstract: Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP or amylin) is predominantly expressed by insulin cells, but occurs also in primary sensory neurons in the rat. Here, using mice targeted for a null mutation in the IAPP gene, we establish murine expression of IAPP in sensory neurons; its distribution in a population of calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing neurons in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion is similar to that previously described in the rat. We also report the IAPP mutant mice display a reduced pain response in the paw formalin test. Adjuvant-induced joint inflammation was not altered in IAPP mutants, arguing against a peripheral inflammatory abnormality. These findings lead us to suggest that IAPP has a pro-nociceptive function in primary sensory neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Göteborg University, Box 440 SE 405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. samuel.gebre-medlem.gu.se
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gebre-Medhin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sundler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betsholtz
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000473:pathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D004202:Disinfectants; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000502:physiology*; D009443:Neuritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D004202:Disinfectants; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D005557:Formaldehyde; D013373:Substance P; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide