This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (11) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kissin, I. Articles by Bradley, E. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kissin, I. Articles by Bradley, E. L., Jr.

---

PAIN MEDICINE

Selective and Long-Lasting Neural Blockade with Resiniferatoxin Prevents Inflammatory Pain Hypersensitivity

Igor Kissin, MD PhD^*, Cheryl A. Bright, BS^*, and Edwin L. Bradley, Jr., PhD

*Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Address correspondence to Igor Kissin, MD, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115. Address e-mail to kissin{at}zeus.bwh.harvard.edu

Capsaicin can produce a selective and long-lasting neural blockade. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is an ultrapotent vanilloid agonist with a unique spectrum of activities different from that of capsaicin. We sought to determine whether a single application of RTX to a peripheral nerve could completely prevent the long-lasting mechanical hyperalgesia caused by carrageenan injection. In rat experiments, RTX (0.001%) was administered percutaneously to the sciatic and saphenous nerves before the intraplantar injection of carrageenan. Responses to noxious mechanical (pressure on the paw) and thermal (hot plate) stimulations and changes in paw circumference were measured at various time intervals for 8 days after treatment. The administration of RTX resulted in mechanical and thermal hypoalgesia (for 2 and 8 days, respectively). Inflammatory hyperalgesia was completely prevented by the precarrageenan injection of RTX. Inflammatory enhancement of paw circumference was reduced by RTX (12.0 ± 2.4 mm versus 6.9 ± 3.4 mm, P < 0.005). We suggest that the selective nature of the effect of vanilloid agonists on nociception could provide an opportunity for prolonged neural blockade when early mobilization and/or preservation of protective sensation are required.

IMPLICATIONS: We report that an ultrapotent vanilloid agonist resiniferatoxin can provide a selective and long-lasting neural blockade. Applied to the sciatic and saphenous nerves, it completely prevented pain hypersensitivity caused by prolonged inflammatory process (injection of carrageenan into the paw).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. Kissin Vanilloid-Induced Conduction Analgesia: Selective, Dose-Dependent, Long-Lasting, with a Low Level of Potential Neurotoxicity Anesth. Analg., July 1, 2008; 107(1): 271 - 281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Sugimoto, I. Kissin, and G. Strichartz A High Concentration of Resiniferatoxin Inhibits Ion Channel Function in Clonal Neuroendocrine Cells Anesth. Analg., July 1, 2008; 107(1): 318 - 324. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Kissin, C. F. Freitas, H. L. Mulhern, and U. DeGirolami Sciatic Nerve Block with Resiniferatoxin: An Electron Microscopic Study of Unmyelinated Fibers in the Rat Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2007; 105(3): 825 - 831. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Kissin, C. F. Freitas, and E. L. Bradley Jr Memory of pain: the effect of perineural resiniferatoxin. Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2006; 103(3): 721 - 728. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. McLeod, K. Dell, C. Smith, and J. A. W. Wildsmith Measuring the quality of continuous epidural block for abdominal surgery Br. J. Anaesth., May 1, 2006; 96(5): 633 - 639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Y. Kissin, C. F. Freitas, and I. Kissin The Effects of Intraarticular Resiniferatoxin in Experimental Knee-Joint Arthritis Anesth. Analg., November 1, 2005; 101(5): 1433 - 1439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Kissin, N. Davison, and E. L. Bradley Jr Perineural Resiniferatoxin Prevents Hyperalgesia in a Rat Model of Postoperative Pain Anesth. Analg., March 1, 2005; 100(3): 774 - 780. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]