Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Lundeberg

Publications and source records attributed to T Lundeberg.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

The effect of a single intraperitoneal dose of hrIL-1 alpha on substance P-, neurokinin A-, calcitonin gene-related peptide- and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and knee joint synovial fluid in the rat.

Substance P (SP)-, neurokinin A (NKA)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) was studied in rats' cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), plasma and synovial fluid (SF) from both knee joints at 2 and 24 h following an intraperitoneal administration of 0.05 ml human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (i.p. hrIL-1 alpha) or saline. Increased or decreased levels of SP-, NKA and CGRP-LI were detected in CSF and plasma, whereas NPY-LI was unaffected. In SF only CGRP-LI increased bilaterally. There was a correlation in CGRP-LI content between plasma and CSF following i.p. hrIL-1 alpha but not between plasma and SF or CSF and SF. It can be concluded that (1) i.p. hrIL-1 alpha activates somatosensory afferents thereby increasing SP- and CGRP-LI content in CSF and plasma and NKA-LI in CSF; 2) i.p. hrIL-1 alpha induces a bilateral increase of CGRP-LI in SF which is not mediated through systemic circulation and is possibly a part of the general host defensive reaction.

Animals↗

The calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonist CGRP8-37 increases the latency to withdrawal responses in rats.

The present study explored the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its antagonist CGRP8-37 on the latency to hindpaw withdrawal responses induced by both thermal and mechanical stimulation in rats. (1) Intrathecal injection of 10 nmol of CGRP had no effects on the latency to hindpaw withdrawal; intrathecal injection of 5 nmol of substance P (SP) decreased the latency to both withdrawal responses. (2) Intrathecal administration of 5 nmol or 10 nmol of CGRP8-37, but not 1 nmol, induced a significant increase in hindpaw withdrawal latency. (3) Intrathecal administration of CGRP8-37 not only reversed the SP-induced decrease in latency to both withdrawal responses but also mediated a significant increase in response latency compared to basal levels. The demonstrated results suggest that intrathecal administration of CGRP8-37 has a possible antinociceptive effect, and CGRP receptors in the spinal cord may be involved.

Animals↗

[Acupuncture against climacteric disorders? Lower number of symptoms after menopause].

Vasomotor symptoms are very common among perimenopausal women, but also among orchidectomized men. The cause of the symptoms is not the low steroid concentrations per se, but probably changes in central neuropeptide activity. Twenty-four healthy women with natural menopause, suffering from hot flushes, were included in the study and randomly assigned to either of two groups, one group received treatment with electrostimulated acupuncture (EA), the other with superficial needle position (SNP) acupuncture. Treatment was given for totally of eight weeks, twice a week during the first two weeks, and then once a week for the remaining six weeks. As recorded in logbooks kept by the participants, the frequency of flushes decreased significantly by more than 50 per cent in both groups, and remained decreased in the EA group, whereas in the SNP group it increased slightly again over the three months after treatment. Values for the Kupperman Index decreased in both groups during treatment, changes still evident at three-month follow-up, whereas the self-rated general climacteric symptoms (VAS) decreased significantly in the EA group only. The PGWB (Psychological General Well-Being) index did not change significantly in either group during treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

Anti-nociceptive effects of oxytocin in rats and mice.

The existence of neural opioid-mediated networks that are specific for the modulation of nociception is well established. Parallel non-opioid pathways exist, but their underlying physiology is little known. We now report that oxytocin administered intraperitoneally to rats, and intraperitoneally or intracisternally to mice has an anti-nociceptive effect, which is related to the activation of descending anti-nociceptive pathways. This anti-nociceptive effect can be reversed by an oxytocin antagonist but not by the opioid antagonist naloxone. The anti-nociceptive effect of oxytocin is not directly dependent on the activation of serotonergic pathways or to changes in temperature. Our data indicate that the oxytocinergic system has a modulatory function on nociception.

Analgesics↗

Substance P-, neurokinin A-, calcitonin gene-related peptide- and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in rat knee joint synovial fluid during acute monoarthritis is not correlated with concentrations of neuropeptide-LI in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma.

In a recent study we have shown a bilateral release of substance P (SP)-, neurokinin A (NKA)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in rat synovial fluid during acute monoarthritis. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these phenomena, we examined the correlation between neuropeptide-LI in rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and synovial fluid and between plasma and synovial fluid following the intra-articular injection of equal volumes (0.05 ml) of either Freund's adjuvans, carrageenan 2%, substance P 10(-5) M or human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha. Control rats were given saline intra-articularly. CSF, plasma and synovial fluid from the knee joints were obtained at 2, 6 and 24 h after injection and were analysed by specific radioimmunoassays. The intra-articular injection of pro-inflammatory substances induced changes in neuropeptide-LI in synovial fluid, CSF and plasma. However, there was no correlation between neuropeptide-LI in synovial fluid and plasma or between synovial fluid and CSF. The results of the present study does not support the hypothesis that the bilateral changes in neuropeptide-LI in synovial fluid were due to a release of neuropeptides from the inflamed joint into the systemic circulation. However, in carrageenan induced inflammation there was a tendency towards a correlation in SP-LI between CSF and synovial fluid suggesting that central neurogenic mechanisms should be studied in order to explain the bilateral changes seen.

Acute Disease↗

Intradermal lignocaine injections increase blood cell flux but not flap survival in rats.

In four groups of six rats a random dorsal flap was raised, and 5, 20, or 200 mg/ml lignocaine or 0.9% sodium chloride, were injected intradermally. Cutaneous laser Doppler blood cell flux was measured at 12 time points over 130 minutes. In six other groups 5, 20, 100, 200, or 400 mg/ml lignocaine concentrations, or sodium chloride were tested. Blood cell flux was measured at the time that the flap was raised and 30 minutes after the injections. The area of the flap that survived was measured on day 10. Raising of the flaps resulted in a significant reduction in blood cell flux, which was followed by a significant increase at 10 minutes (p < 0.05) after the injections with all lignocaine concentrations tested. Injections of 5, 20 and 100 mg/ml lignocaine elicited a significant increase (p < 0.05) in blood cell flux compared with baseline values. There was no reduction in blood cell flux values at any concentration of lignocaine tested. Compared with sodium chloride, injections of lignocaine had no significant effect on flap survival. We conclude that, despite an increase in blood cell flux, lignocaine had no effect on flap survival in this model.

Animals↗

Increased basal concentrations of plasma endothelin in borderline hypertension.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence for an altered endothelial function in established hypertension but little is known about endothelial function in borderline hypertension. It has also been suggested that the early stages of hypertension are characterized by an increased sympathetic drive. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether alterations in endothelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are already present in the borderline hypertensive stage. DESIGN: A case-control study of age-matched men recruited from a population screening programme. METHODS: Seventy-five men with stable borderline hypertension [diastolic blood pressure (DBP), 85-94 mmHg] and 75 age- and sex-matched normotensive controls (DBP < or = 80 mmHg) were investigated. Plasma samples were drawn in a standardized fashion, and extracted and analysed using competitive radio immunoassays. RESULTS: Basal concentrations of NPY and CGRP were similar in the two groups (28.4 versus 26.7 pmol/l and 24.2 versus 21.7 pmol/l, respectively). Basal concentrations of endothelin were significantly higher in the borderline hypertensive group (2.0 versus 1.5 pmol/l, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a disturbed endothelial function, represented by endothelin, could be involved in the early hypertensive processes. They also suggest that these changes could be present before the basal sympathetic/parasympathetic drive alters, warranting further research into this area.

Adult↗

Oxytocin modulates the effects of galanin in carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia in rats.

In the present study we have investigated the effects of galanin and/or oxytocin on carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, the relationship between oxytocin and galanin-containing nerve fibers in the spinal cord and the influence of galanin on oxytocin secretion. Galanin (1 microgram) given intrathecally (i.t.) decreased significantly the mechanical nociceptive threshold of the carrageenan-treated hindpaw, with no significant effect on thermal nociception. The decrease in the mechanonociceptive threshold exerted by galanin was modulated by oxytocin (1 microgram, i.t.) administered simultaneously. There was a close relationship between galanin- and oxytocin-immunoreactive fibers in the dorsal horn of the thoracic spinal cord, although there was no evidence for colocalization. Galanin 0.1 and 1 microgram given intracerebroventricularly or intraperitoneally significantly decreased the oxytocin level in plasma 60 min after injection. Taken together, these data indicate that galanin may contribute to mechanical hyperalgesia by inhibiting the release of oxytocin from nerve terminals in the spinal cord and that oxytocin may be a potential analgesic agent.

Animals↗

Bilateral changes of substance P-, neurokinin A-, calcitonin gene-related peptide- and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in rat knee joint synovial fluid during acute monoarthritis.

It has been hypothesized that the nervous system contributes to the symmetrical response in rheumatoid arthritis. In order to elucidate this, the bilateral concentrations of substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI), neurokinin A-LI (NKA-LI), calcitonin gene-related peptide-LI (CGRP-LI) and neuropeptide Y-LI (NPY-LI) in rat synovial fluid during acute monoarthritis were studied. Equal volumes (0.05 ml) of either Freund adjuvants, carrageenan 2%, substance P 10(-5) M or human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha were injected into the right and saline into the left knee joint. Control rats were given saline bilaterally. Perfusates were obtained from both knees simultaneously at 2, 6 and 24 h after injection and were analysed by specific radioimmunoassays. Increase of SP-, NKA-, CGRP- and NPY-LI in synovial fluid occurred in both knees after injections with the pro-inflammatory substances into the right joints as compared to controls, except for unchanged SP-LI in the right knee joint after 24 h following hrIL-1 alpha injection. There was, however, generally no significant difference in the peptide contents between the right knee (injected with pro-inflammatory substance) as compared to the left knee (given saline) at 2, 6 or 24 h after injection except at three occasions. The results show that experimentally induced monoarthritis induces bilateral changes in synovial fluid peptide content.

Acute Disease↗

Effects on local blood flux of acupuncture stimulation used to treat xerostomia in patients suffering from Sjögren's syndrome.

Twenty-one patients with Sjögren's syndrome were given four different kinds of acupuncture stimulation, at acupuncture points previously used to treat xerostomia. The local blood flux in the skin overlying the parotid gland was measured with laser Doppler flowmetry before, during and after the acupuncture stimulation. The results showed that the local blood flux increased significantly during and after both manual acupuncture and low-frequency (2 Hz) electro-acupuncture as compared with superficial acupuncture. These results indicate that acupuncture induced an increase in the local blood flux which was more pronounced for those patients who had previously reacted with increased salivary flow to acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

Epinephrine reduces the severity of catheter-induced urethral inflammation by action at the alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

We have studied the contribution of epinephrine to experimentally induced urethral inflammation in the rat. Inflammation was induced by inserting latex strips into the urethra. The effects of various experimental procedures were assessed according to a 4-point scale based on histological findings. The results showed that 0.5 mg/kg epinephrine decreased the severity of catheter-induced urethral inflammation. This effect was blocked by the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, yohimbine, but not by alpha 1 (prazosin), beta 1 (M32 MTC), or beta 2 (butoxamine) antagonists. The results suggest that the suppressive effect of epinephrine is mediated by action at the alpha 2 adrenergic receptor.

Animals↗

Interstitial cystitis: correlation with nerve fibres, mast cells and histamine.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a painful condition in the urinary bladder of unknown aetiology and pathogenesis. To assess the contribution of the nervous system to IC a biopsy was taken from 6 patients with IC and from a control group of 6 patients with non-ulcerative IC. Mast cells were counted and histamine measured in bladder washings from all patients. There were significantly more nerve fibres within the sub-urothelium and detrusor muscle in chronic IC than there were in non-ulcerative IC. The bladder washings from all patients with IC contained mast cells and histamine, while only occasional mast cells and traces of histamine were found in washings from patients with non-ulcerative IC. There was a good correlation between the number of nerve fibres and number of mast cells as well as between the number of nerve fibres and the amount of histamine.

Aged↗

The effect of endothelin, neuropeptide Y, calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P on neutrophil functions.

Neuropeptides are putative mediators of inflammation. At physiological concentrations substance P has been shown to prime polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocyte (PMN) chemiluminescence (CL). In the present study we show also that both endothelin and neuropeptide Y (NPY), but not calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are able to prime PMN oxidative metabolism. At similar nanomolar concentrations SP and endothelin (but not NPY) also primed formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced rises of cytosolic calcium. On the other hand, NPY caused a direct and dose-related increase of cytosolic calcium concentrations. None of the mentioned neuropeptides primed PMN aggregation or directly induced CL, aggregation or chemotaxis over a wide range of concentrations (1 fM-1 microM).

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide↗

The antinociceptive effect of non-noxious sensory stimulation is mediated partly through oxytocinergic mechanisms.

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether oxytocinergic mechanisms may contribute to the antinociceptive effect of non-noxious, sensory stimulation. To test this hypothesis, oxytocin levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in control rats as well as in rats exposed for 30 min to electro-acupuncture (2 Hz), thermal stimulation (40 degrees C) or vibration (100 Hz). All modes of stimulation induced significant elevations of oxytocin levels in plasma and/or in CSF, 30 or 90 min after the end of stimulation. Secondly, the antinociceptive effects of these treatments were investigated in the tail-flick test with and without prior administration of the oxytocin antagonist 1-deamino-2-D-Tyr-(OEt)-4-Thr-8-Orn-oxytocin (1 mg kg-1 i.p.). All three modes of stimulation caused a significant delay of the tail-flick latency to the same degree as that caused by injection of oxytocin 1 mg kg-1 i.p. (electro-acupuncture P < 0.01, thermal stimulation and vibration P < 0.05). In all cases, the delay was reversed by administration of the oxytocin antagonist (1 mg kg-1 i.p.). These findings suggest that analgesic effects induced by non-noxious sensory stimulation may, in part, be mediated through activation of oxytocinergic mechanisms.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

Influence of calcitonin gene-related peptide on histamine- and substance P-induced itch, flare and weal in humans.

Recent data have shown both synergistic and inhibitory effects between calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) on inflammation and flare responses. The modulatory effects of CGRP on the itch, flare and weal responses following intracutaneous injections of SP and histamine were studied in 10 healthy volunteers. The only change in itch responsiveness observed was a significant prolongation of itch latency following SP when preceded 10 min earlier by a CGRP injection. No influence on flare and weal was observed.

Adult↗

Relation between intra-articular temperature of the arthritic temporomandibular joint and presence of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the joint fluid. A clinical study.

Arthritic temporomandibular joints were investigated for intra-articular temperature and joint fluid content of calcitonin gene-related peptide. Eleven patients (16 joints) with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or chronic unspecific polyarthritis or monarthritis participated in the study. The intra-articular temperature varied between 35.5 and 37.5 degrees C, with a mean of 36.5 degrees C. The concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide varied between 7.5 and 749.0 pmol/l, with a mean of 108.6 pmol/l. There was a positive correlation between the intra-articular temperature and the joint fluid concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide. The plasma level of the peptide was on an average 5% of the joint fluid level.

Adult↗