Nociceptive-specific blink reflex and glyceryl trinitrate infusion in healthy volunteers
Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is known to induce early headache in healthy humans after intravenous infusion. Moreover, in animal models subcutaneous administration produces an increase in Fos expression in brainstem areas that are involved in trigeminal pain processing. In a double‐blind crossover stud...
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Published in | European journal of neurology Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 295 - 299 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford, UK
Blackwell Science Ltd
01.05.2003
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is known to induce early headache in healthy humans after intravenous infusion. Moreover, in animal models subcutaneous administration produces an increase in Fos expression in brainstem areas that are involved in trigeminal pain processing. In a double‐blind crossover study, we tested the blink reflex before, during and immediately after GTN and placebo intravenous infusion in eight healthy volunteers using a new stimulation electrode that preferentially activates A‐δ nociceptive afferent fibres. The initial hypothesis that GTN could induce an increase in the magnitude of the nociceptive blink reflex R2 component by stimulating activity of trigeminal nucleus caudalis wide dynamic range interneurones was not confirmed. Although mild headache was induced in six subjects, there was no significant change between the R2 area under the curve before and after drug vs. placebo. |
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Bibliography: | ArticleID:ENE591 ark:/67375/WNG-2SNRBK3P-M istex:68B256E4564D7D2A7C4D5EA6978D722566D606FE 2001 Kowacs et al . This work was presented in preliminary form at the 10th International Headache Congress, New York, July 2001 |
ISSN: | 1351-5101 1468-1331 |
DOI: | 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2003.00591.x |