Hypoalgesia in mice with a targeted deletion of the tachykinin 1 gene

A Zimmer, AM Zimmer, J Baffi, T Usdin… - Proceedings of the …, 1998 - National Acad Sciences
A Zimmer, AM Zimmer, J Baffi, T Usdin, K Reynolds, M König, M Palkovits, É Mezey
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1998National Acad Sciences
The tachykinin neuropeptides, substance P and substance K, are produced in nociceptive
primary sensory neurons and in many brain regions involved in pain signaling. However, the
precise role and importance of these neuropeptides in pain responses has been debated.
We now show that mice that cannot produce these peptides display no significant pain
responses following formalin injection and have an increased pain threshold in the hotplate
test. On the other hand, the mutant mice react normally in the tail flick assay and acetic acid …
The tachykinin neuropeptides, substance P and substance K, are produced in nociceptive primary sensory neurons and in many brain regions involved in pain signaling. However, the precise role and importance of these neuropeptides in pain responses has been debated. We now show that mice that cannot produce these peptides display no significant pain responses following formalin injection and have an increased pain threshold in the hotplate test. On the other hand, the mutant mice react normally in the tail flick assay and acetic acid-induced writhing tests. These results demonstrate that substance P and/or substance K have essential functions in specific responses to pain.
National Acad Sciences