Acute vibration reduces Abeta nerve fiber sensitivity and alters gene expression in the ventral tail nerves of rats.
Long-term occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration can result in a permanent reduction in tactile sensitivity in exposed fingers and hands. Little is known about how vibration causes this reduction in sensitivity, and currently no testing procedures have been developed to monitor changes in sensory perception during ongoing exposures. We used a rat-tail model of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) to determine whether changes in sensory nerve function could be detected after acute exposure to vibration. Nerve function was assessed using the current perception threshold (CPT) method. We also determined whether changes in nerve function were associated with changes in gene transcription. Our results demonstrate that the CPT method can be used to assess sensory nerve function repeatedly in rats and can detect transient decreases in the sensitivity of Abeta nerve fibers caused by acute exposure to vibration. This decrease in Abeta fiber sensitivity was associated with a reduction in expression of nitric oxide synthase-1, and a modest increase in calcitonin gene-related peptide transcript levels in tail nerves 24 h after vibration exposure. These transient changes in sensory perception and transcript levels induced by acute vibration exposure may be indicators of more prolonged changes in peripheral nerve physiology.
Krajnak
Kristine
K
Engineering and Control Technology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA. ksk1@cdc.gov
Waugh
Stacey
S
Wirth
Oliver
O
Kashon
Michael L
ML
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013623:Tail / Q000294:innervation*; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration
D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide