Nerve growth factor locally sensitizes nociceptors in human skin

• Published in: Pain (Amsterdam) Vol. 159; no. 3; pp. 416 - 426
• Main Authors: Obreja, Otilia, Rukwied, Roman, Nagler, Lorenz, Schmidt, Martha, Schmelz, Martin, Namer, Barbara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wolters Kluwer 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Action Potentials - drug effects; Adult; Electric Stimulation - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Hyperalgesia - chemically induced; Hyperalgesia - drug therapy; Injections, Intradermal; Male; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated - drug effects; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated - physiology; Nerve Growth Factor - pharmacology; Neural Conduction - drug effects; Neural Conduction - physiology; Nociceptors - drug effects; Pain Threshold - drug effects; Skin - cytology; Skin - innervation

Nerve growth factor (NGF) injected into the human skin causes local hyperalgesia to mechanical and electrical stimuli lasting for weeks. Pig data suggested axonal sensitization of C-nociceptors as a contributing mechanism. Here, we recorded single C-nociceptors in 11 human subjects 3 weeks after int...