title: Endothelins as pronociceptive mediators of the rat trigeminal system: role of ETA and ETB receptors.
abstract: The trigeminal nerve is comprised of three main divisions, ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular, each providing somatosensory innervation to distinct regions of the head, face and oral cavity. Recently, a role for endothelins in nociceptive signaling in the trigeminal system has been proposed. The present study aimed to gain better insight into the participation of the endothelin system in trigeminal nociceptive transmission. Herein ET-1 and ET-3 mRNA was detected in the rats' trigeminal ganglion (TG). Fluorescent labeling of TG neurons revealed that ET(A) and ET(B) receptors are distributed along the entire TG, but ET(A) receptor expression slightly predominated within the three divisions. TRPV1 receptors were also detected throughout the entire TG, and a significant proportion of TRPV1-positive neurons (approximately 30%) co-expressed either ET(A) or ET(B) receptors. Our behavioral data showed that ET-1 (3 to 30 pmol/site) induced overt nociceptive responses after injection into the upper lip or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and hyperalgesic actions when applied to the eye, while ET-3 and the selective ET(B) receptor agonist IRL-1620 (each at 3 to 30 pmol/site) showed only the first two effects. Injection of BQ-123, but not BQ-788 (ET(A) and ET(B) receptor antagonists, respectively, 10 nmol/site each, 30 min beforehand), into the ipsilateral upper lip abolished ET-1 induced facial grooming, but both antagonists markedly reduced the nociceptive responses induced by ET-1 injected into the TMJ. Taken together, these findings suggest that endothelins, acting through ET(A) and/or ET(B) receptors, may play an important role in mediating pain resulting from activation of most trigeminal nerve branches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil. juliana.chichorro@ufpr.br
authors.forename: Juliana Geremias
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chichorro
authors.forename: Cibelle Ramos
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Fiuza
authors.forename: Elisangela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bressan
authors.forename: Rafaela Franco
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Claudino
authors.forename: Daniela Ferraz
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Giles Alexander
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019334:Endothelin-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008046:Lip / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000378:metabolism*; D018689:Sensory System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000378:metabolism; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D019334:Endothelin-3; D016232:Endothelins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010880:Piperidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D018689:Sensory System Agents; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C493922:Trpv1 protein, rat; C074308:sovateltide; C086539:BQ 788; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu)