Effects of subcutaneous carbon dioxide on calcitonin gene related peptide and substance P secretion in rat skin.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the subcutaneous injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) on neuropeptides Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Substance P (SP) secretion in rat skin.


METHODS
Fifty-six Wistar-EPM rats were distributed in two groups: one for CGRP analysis, the other for SP analysis. Each group was subdivided into four subgroups: control (Cont), control with needle (ContNd), CO2 injection (CO2Inj) and atmospheric air injection (AirInj) - with seven animals each. Sample analyses of partial skin were conducted by Western Blotting (WB).


RESULTS
In SP group, there was a decrease in the amount of neuropeptides in subgroups CO2Inj and AirInj. Similarly, in CGRP group, there was a decrease in the amount of pro-CGRP neuropeptides (15 kDa) in subgroups CO2Inj and AirInj; Nevertheless, there was no decrease in the amount of CGRP (5 kDa) in any subgroups.


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous injection of CO2 and atmospheric air decreased the amount of Substance P and pro-Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (15 kDa) neuropeptides in rat skin.
Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Erica Calcagno
EC
Raymundo
Department of Surgery, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Bernardo
B
Hochman
UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Michele Akemi
MA
Nishioka
Department of Surgery, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
José Octávio
JO
Gonçalves de Freitas
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Jéssica Ruivo
JR
Maximino
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, USP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Gerson
G
Chadi
Department of Surgery, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Lydia Masako
LM
Ferreira
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013373:Substance P / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013373:Substance P; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide