title: A comparison of hyperalgesia and neurogenic inflammation induced by melittin and capsaicin in humans.
abstract: Melittin (a main compound of bee venom) and capsaicin were injected intradermally in healthy human volunteers: (1) to study secondary mechanical hyperalgesia (static hyperalgesia and dynamic hyperalgesia) around the injection site; and (2) to correlate the sensory changes to the neurogenic inflammation assessed by laser-doppler blood flowmetry. Melittin 50 microg and capsaicin 10 microg induced comparable spontaneous pain and increased blood flow (neurogenic inflammation). Intradermal injection of melittin induced regions of secondary mechanical hyperalgesia around the injection site, however, they were not as large as the hyperalgesia induced by capsaicin. This is the first report studying mechanical hyperalgesia induced by melittin in humans, and the results were in agreement with the previous observations in rats. Melittin seems to be a valuable model to study a possible contribution of neurogenic inflammation to hyperalgesia in humans.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7, Building D3, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark. sumikura@smi.auc.dk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sumikura
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Drewes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arendt-Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008555:Melitten / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020078:Neurogenic Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D008555:Melitten; D002211:Capsaicin