PAINj: Neurohormonal effects of oxytocin and vasopressin receptor agonists on spinal pain processing in male rats Summary Intravenous injection of oxytocin or vasopressin modulates nociception. The antinociceptive effect is mediated by the OT receptor, whereas the V1AR contributes to the pronociceptive actions. Abstract Oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are 2 neuropeptides that display well-known effects on the reproductive system. Although still controversial, oxytocin and vasopressin were demonstrated to exert potent effects on the nociceptive system when administered directly in various central nervous structures. On the other hand, little is known about their peripheral (hormonal) actions on nociception and pain responses. The aim of the present work was to characterize the effects of physiological blood concentrations of OT and AVP on spinal nociception and on pain responses. To do so, growing doses of OT or AVP were administered intravenously and the nociceptive processing by spinal cord neurons was analyzed in anesthetized male rats in vivo. We observed that the action potentials mediated by C-type nociceptive fibers was strongly reduced (antinociception) after intravenous injections of low doses of OT (
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 18:00:49 +0000
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