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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 101/4/1742    most recent 91311.2008v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sawyer, C. M. Articles by Carstens, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sawyer, C. M. Articles by Carstens, E.

Activation of Lumbar Spinal Wide-Dynamic Range Neurons by a Sanshool Derivative

¹Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; and ²Givaudan Flavors Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio

Submitted 10 December 2008; accepted in final form 24 January 2009

The enigmatic sensation of tingle involves the activation of primary sensory neurons by hydroxy--sanshool, a tingly agent in Szechuan peppers, by inhibiting two-pore potassium channels. Central mechanisms mediating tingle sensation are unknown. We investigated whether a stable derivative of sanshool—isobutylalkenyl amide (IBA)—excites wide-dynamic range (WDR) spinal neurons that participate in transmission of chemesthetic information from the skin. In anesthetized rats, the majority of WDR and low-threshold units responded to intradermal injection of IBA in a dose-related manner over a >5-min time course and exhibited tachyphylaxis at higher concentrations (1 and 10%). Almost all WDR and low-threshold units additionally responded to the pungent agents mustard oil (allyl isothiocyanate) and/or capsaicin, prompting reclassification of the low-threshold cells as WDR. The results are discussed in terms of the functional role of WDR neurons in mediating tingle sensation.