Correlation between substance P content of primary sensory neurones and pain sensitivity in rats exposed to antibodies to nerve growth factor

Abstract

An experimental autoimmune model was used to study effects of nerve growth factor deprivation on the peptide content of sensory neurones and on pain sensitivity. Rats exposed during development to anti-nerve growth factor antibodies showed an increased threshold towards nociceptive stimuli. These animals also showed a significant decrease in substance P levels in their dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord. These results suggest that substance P-containing primary sensory neurones are involved in certain types of nociception.