Biomaterial Database

Actions of cholinergic agonists and antagonists on sensory nerve endings in rat skin, in vitro. 1993

K H Steen, and P W Reeh

Institut für Physiologie und Biokybernetik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.

1. Cholinergic effects on primary sensory afferents were investigated in a superfused skin-saphenous nerve preparation of the rat that allows the application of chemicals topically to the corium side of identified receptive fields. 2. The acetylcholine analogue carbachol (carbamoylcholine) selectively excited cutaneous C-fibers of nociceptive character; in proportion, almost half of the mechanoheat sensitive ("polymodal," C-MH, n = 27), and a third of the mechanocold sensitive (C-MC, n = 10), and high-threshold mechanosensitive (C-HTM, n = 6) C-fibers were activated. 3. None of slowly and rapidly adapting A beta fibers, low and high threshold mechanoreceptive A delta fibers (n = 19) gave a response to high concentrations (< or = 10(-4) M) of carbachol. 4. The carbachol threshold concentrations of C-nociceptors ranged between 10(-7) and 10(-4) M; 10(-6) M was most frequently encountered. 5. The carbachol-induced discharges showed a dose-response relationship without obvious "ceiling" from 10(-6) to 10(-4) M. Tachyphylaxis was not prominent; the fibers mostly developed ongoing activity after exposure to carbachol. 6. Repeated carbachol treatment of C-MH units left with a marked and sustained desensitization to mechanical (von Frey) stimulation, while the heat responsiveness remained unchanged. 7. In a group of carbachol-sensitive C-nociceptors (n = 4), two units could also be excited with muscarine (10(-6) M), one with nicotine (10(-6) M), and one unit with both substances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008465	Mechanoreceptors	Cells specialized to transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Mechanoreceptor cells include the INNER EAR hair cells, which mediate hearing and balance, and the various somatosensory receptors, often with non-neural accessory structures.	Golgi Tendon Organ,Golgi Tendon Organs,Krause's End Bulb,Krause's End Bulbs,Mechanoreceptor,Mechanoreceptor Cell,Meissner's Corpuscle,Neurotendinous Spindle,Neurotendinous Spindles,Receptors, Stretch,Ruffini's Corpuscle,Ruffini's Corpuscles,Stretch Receptor,Stretch Receptors,Mechanoreceptor Cells,Bulb, Krause's End,Bulbs, Krause's End,Cell, Mechanoreceptor,Cells, Mechanoreceptor,Corpuscle, Meissner's,Corpuscle, Ruffini's,Corpuscles, Ruffini's,End Bulb, Krause's,End Bulbs, Krause's,Krause End Bulb,Krause End Bulbs,Krauses End Bulb,Krauses End Bulbs,Meissner Corpuscle,Meissners Corpuscle,Organ, Golgi Tendon,Organs, Golgi Tendon,Receptor, Stretch,Ruffini Corpuscle,Ruffini Corpuscles,Ruffinis Corpuscle,Ruffinis Corpuscles,Spindle, Neurotendinous,Spindles, Neurotendinous,Tendon Organ, Golgi,Tendon Organs, Golgi
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D009435	Synaptic Transmission	The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES.	Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009619	Nociceptors	Peripheral AFFERENT NEURONS which are sensitive to injuries or pain, usually caused by extreme thermal exposures, mechanical forces, or other noxious stimuli. Their cell bodies reside in the DORSAL ROOT GANGLIA. Their peripheral terminals (NERVE ENDINGS) innervate target tissues and transduce noxious stimuli via axons to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Pain Receptors,Receptors, Pain,Nociceptive Neurons,Neuron, Nociceptive,Neurons, Nociceptive,Nociceptive Neuron,Nociceptor,Pain Receptor
D010276	Parasympatholytics	Agents that inhibit the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system. The major group of drugs used therapeutically for this purpose is the MUSCARINIC ANTAGONISTS.	Antispasmodic,Antispasmodic Agent,Antispasmodic Drug,Antispasmodics,Parasympathetic-Blocking Agent,Parasympathetic-Blocking Agents,Parasympatholytic,Parasympatholytic Agent,Parasympatholytic Drug,Spasmolytic,Spasmolytics,Antispasmodic Agents,Antispasmodic Drugs,Antispasmodic Effect,Antispasmodic Effects,Parasympatholytic Agents,Parasympatholytic Drugs,Parasympatholytic Effect,Parasympatholytic Effects,Agent, Antispasmodic,Agent, Parasympathetic-Blocking,Agent, Parasympatholytic,Agents, Antispasmodic,Agents, Parasympathetic-Blocking,Agents, Parasympatholytic,Drug, Antispasmodic,Drug, Parasympatholytic,Drugs, Antispasmodic,Drugs, Parasympatholytic,Effect, Antispasmodic,Effect, Parasympatholytic,Effects, Antispasmodic,Effects, Parasympatholytic,Parasympathetic Blocking Agent,Parasympathetic Blocking Agents
D010277	Parasympathomimetics	Drugs that mimic the effects of parasympathetic nervous system activity. Included here are drugs that directly stimulate muscarinic receptors and drugs that potentiate cholinergic activity, usually by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine (CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORS). Drugs that stimulate both sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic neurons (GANGLIONIC STIMULANTS) are not included here.	Parasympathomimetic Agents,Parasympathomimetic Drugs,Parasympathomimetic Effect,Parasympathomimetic Effects,Agents, Parasympathomimetic,Drugs, Parasympathomimetic,Effect, Parasympathomimetic,Effects, Parasympathomimetic
D011976	Receptors, Muscarinic	One of the two major classes of cholinergic receptors. Muscarinic receptors were originally defined by their preference for MUSCARINE over NICOTINE. There are several subtypes (usually M1, M2, M3....) that are characterized by their cellular actions, pharmacology, and molecular biology.	Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors,Muscarinic Receptors,Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor,Muscarinic Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptor, Muscarinic,Acetylcholine Receptors, Muscarinic,Receptor, Muscarinic,Receptor, Muscarinic Acetylcholine,Receptors, Muscarinic Acetylcholine
D011978	Receptors, Nicotinic	One of the two major classes of cholinergic receptors. Nicotinic receptors were originally distinguished by their preference for NICOTINE over MUSCARINE. They are generally divided into muscle-type and neuronal-type (previously ganglionic) based on pharmacology, and subunit composition of the receptors.	Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors,Nicotinic Receptors,Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor,Nicotinic Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptor, Nicotinic,Acetylcholine Receptors, Nicotinic,Receptor, Nicotinic,Receptor, Nicotinic Acetylcholine,Receptors, Nicotinic Acetylcholine
D011984	Sensory Receptor Cells	Specialized afferent neurons capable of transducing sensory stimuli into NERVE IMPULSES to be transmitted to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Sometimes sensory receptors for external stimuli are called exteroceptors; for internal stimuli are called interoceptors and proprioceptors.	Nerve Endings, Sensory,Neurons, Sensory,Neuroreceptors,Receptors, Neural,Neural Receptors,Receptors, Sensory,Sensory Neurons,Sensory Receptors,Nerve Ending, Sensory,Neural Receptor,Neuron, Sensory,Neuroreceptor,Receptor Cell, Sensory,Receptor Cells, Sensory,Receptor, Neural,Receptor, Sensory,Sensory Nerve Ending,Sensory Nerve Endings,Sensory Neuron,Sensory Receptor,Sensory Receptor Cell