Korean J Anesthesiol.  2005 Aug;49(2):235-240. 10.4097/kjae.2005.49.2.235.

Quantitative Analysis of Secreted Catecholamines from Chromaffin Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

• Park JM
• Kim SJ
• Kwak KH
• Jeon YH
• Baek WY

• KMID: 2092037
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2005.49.2.235

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adrenal medullary transplants into the subarachnoid space have been demonstrated to reduce pain sensitivity. This analgesia most likely results from the release of neuroactive substances, particularly catecholamines and opioid peptides from the transplanted cells into spinal cord.
METHODS
Isolated bovine chromaffin cells were encapsulated with alginate and poly-L-lysine prior to implantation into rat's subarachnoid space to protect them from host immune system. And then catecholamines from encapsulated chromaffin cells were measured quantitatively in vitro by High Performance Liquid Chromatograph. The animals were randomized into 2 groups, one of which received microencapsulated chromaffin cells and the other empty capsules. The effects of such implants were evaluated on the pain behavior resulting from a chronic constriction injury of the rat sciatic nerve for 30 days.
RESULTS
Catecholamine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analyzed. Data (mean SD) are considered significant at P <0.05 (ANOVA for repeated measure and Dunnett's test). Continuous release of catecholamine and met-enkephalin with responsiveness to nicotine stimulation was measured from encapsulated cells in vitro. A significant reduction of allodynic response to acetone evaporation was observed in the animals implanted with cell loaded capsules compared to control animals with empty capsules. Catecholamine concentration in CSF was higher in the cell loaded capsule group. There were no complications related to implantation.
CONCLUSION
We found that encapsulated chromaffin cells released continuously catehcolamines and opioids peptides in vitro and in the CSF. Those results may prove chromaffin cell's anagesic effect indirectly.

Keyword

Bennett's model; catecholamine; chromaffin cell; microencapsulation

MeSH Terms

Acetone
Analgesia
Analgesics, Opioid
Animals
Capsules
Catecholamines*
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Chromaffin Cells*
Constriction
Drug Compounding
Enkephalin, Methionine
Immune System
Nicotine
Opioid Peptides
Peptides
Rats
Sciatic Nerve
Spinal Cord
Subarachnoid Space
Acetone
Analgesics, Opioid
Capsules
Catecholamines
Enkephalin, Methionine
Nicotine
Opioid Peptides
Peptides