Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2001 Apr;44(4):740-747.

Electrophysiological study on the modulation of uterine mechanoreceptor by substance P

• Na JY
• Chang KH
• Shin JC
• You SW
• Hong SC
• Lee SE
• Han HC

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In inflammation, hyperalgesia is a common phenomenon but its mechanism has not been clarified. Recently some reports suggested substance P might be important factors for inflammatory hyperalgesia in somatic tissue. This study was performed to see whether substance P modulate the activities of uterine afferent fibers in the hypogastric nerve of the cat.
METHODS
While recording the electrical activities of nerve fibers, mechanical stimuli were applied as balloon distention using balloon inserted into uterine lumen before and during substance P infusion through uterine artery.
RESULTS
Substance P increased the responses to balloon distension of uterus in 14 uterine mechanoreceptive afferent fibers of 24 over 10% compared to before substance P infusion, and decreased the responses of 3. And L-703,606, the neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist failed the modulation of mechano sensitive response by substance P and reduced the spontaneous activities.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that substance P modulated the activities of uterine nerve fibers and their responses to mechanical stimulus. It is hypothesized that this kind of modulation of afferent nerve fibers by substance P may be important for the development of inflammatory hyperalgesia.

Keyword

Substance P; Inflammatory hyperalgesia; Uterine nerve fiber

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cats
Hyperalgesia
Inflammation
Mechanoreceptors*
Nerve Fibers
Receptors, Neurokinin-1
Substance P*
Uterine Artery
Uterus
Receptors, Neurokinin-1
Substance P