title: Cannabinoid CB2 receptor activation inhibits mechanically evoked responses of wide dynamic range dorsal horn neurons in naïve rats and in rat models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
abstract: Peripheral cannabinoid 2 receptors (CB2 receptors) modulate immune responses and attenuate nociceptive behaviour in models of acute and persistent pain. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether peripheral CB2 receptors modulate spinal processing of innocuous and noxious responses and to determine whether there are altered roles of CB2 receptors in models of persistent pain. Effects of local administration of the CB2 receptor agonist JWH-133 (5 and 15 microg/50 microL) on mechanically evoked responses of spinal wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in noninflamed rats, rats with carrageenan-induced hindpaw inflammation, sham operated rats and spinal nerve-ligated (SNL) rats were determined in anaesthetized rats in vivo. Mechanical stimulation (von Frey filaments, 6-80 g) of the peripheral receptive field evoked firing of WDR neurons. Mechanically evoked responses of WDR neurons were similar in noninflamed, carrageenan-inflamed, sham-operated and SNL rats. Intraplantar injection of JWH-133 (15 microg), but not vehicle, significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited innocuous and noxious mechanically evoked responses of WDR neurons in all four groups of rats. In many cases the selective CB2 receptor antagonist, SR144528 (10 microg/50 microL), attenuated the inhibitory effects of JWH-133 (15 microg) on mechanically evoked WDR neuronal responses. The CB1 receptor antagonist, SR141716A, did not attenuate the inhibitory effects of JWH-133 on these responses. Intraplantar preadministration of JWH-133 also inhibited (P < 0.05) carrageenan-induced expansion of peripheral receptive fields of WDR dorsal horn neurons. This study demonstrates that activation of peripheral CB2 receptors attenuates both innocuous- and noxious-evoked responses of WDR neurons in models of acute, inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Sciences, E Floor, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: Steven J R
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Elmes
authors.forename: Maulik D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jhaveri
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001892:Camphanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002351:Carrageenan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077285:Rimonabant; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D001892:Camphanes; D002186:Cannabinoids; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; C110630:SR 144528; D002351:Carrageenan; D000077285:Rimonabant; C432747:1,1-dimethylbutyl-1-deoxy-Delta(9)-THC