title: Evaluation of formalin-induced pain behavior and glutamate release in the spinal dorsal horn using in vivo microdialysis in conscious rats.
abstract: Measurement of neurotransmitters in the spinal dorsal horn in conscious animals remains a technical challenge. Here we applied concentric microdialysis to measure formalin-induced glutamate (Glu) release in the ipsilateral dorsal horn in conscious, freely-moving rats. Hind paw formalin injection induced flinching nociceptive behaviors accompanied by increased Glu in the dorsal horn (maximum = 294%). Both flinching and Glu increase were prevented by morphine (3 mg/kg, s.c.). Accordingly, concentric microdialysis is a sensitive technique for studying neurochemical modulation induced by pain and analgesics in the spinal dorsal horn of awake rats. Measurement of Glu provides information on modulation of excitatory signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Drug Discovery and Preclinical Development, ESTEVE, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidal-Torres
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carceller
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zamanillo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merlos
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vela
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández-Pastor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde; D018698:Glutamic Acid