• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.297-302
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• 2006

Melittin, a major component of bee venom, produces a sustained decrease in mechanical threshold, and an increase in spontaneous flinchings and paw thickness, which are characteristics similar to those induced by whole bee venom. Melittin-induced nociception has been known to be modulated by the changes in the activity of excitatory amino acid receptors, voltage-dependent calcium channels, cyclooxygenase and serotonin receptors. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of calcium chelators (TMB-8 & Quin 2) in melittin-induced nociceptive responses. Changes of mechanical threshold and spontaneous flinching behaviors were measured at a given time point following intraplantar injection of melittin ($30{\mu}g/paw$). Intrathecal or intraplantar pre-administration and intrathecal posttreatment of TMB-8 and Quin 2 significantly prevented the melittin-induced reduction of mechanical threshold, and intraplantar or intrathecal pre-treatment of TMB-8 and Quin 2 suppressed melittininduced flinching behaviors. These results indicate that calcium ion in the spinal dorsal horn neurons and peripheral nerves plays an important role in the production and maintenance of mechanical allodynia and spontaneous pain by melittin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

Whole bee venom (WBV) and its major component, melittin, have been reported to induce long-lasting spontaneous flinchings and hyperalgesia. The current study was designed to elucidate the peripheral and spinal mechanisms of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors by which intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of WBV and melittin induced nociceptive responses. Changes in mechanical threshold and flinching behaviors were measured after the injection of WBV (0.04 mg or 0.1 mg/paw) and melittin (0.02 mg or 0.05 mg/paw) into the mid-plantar area of a rat hindpaw. MK-801 and CNQX (6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione disodium) were administered intrathecally (i.t. $10{\mu}g$) or i.pl.($15{\mu}g$) 15 min before or i.t. 60 min after i.pl. WBV and melittin injection. Intrathecal pre- and postadministration of MK-801 and CNQX significantly attenuated the ability of high dose WBV and melittin to reduce paw withdrawal threshold (PWT). In the rat injected with low dose, but not high dose, of WBV and melittin, i.pl. injection of MK-801 effectively suppressed the decrease of PWTs only at the later time-points, but the inhibitory effect of CNQX (i.pl.) was significant at all time-point after the injection of low dose melittin. High dose WBV- and melittin-induced spontaneous flinchings were significantly suppressed by i.t. administration of MK-801 and CNQX, and low dose WBV- and melittin-induced flinchings were significantly reduced only by intraplantarly administered CNQX, but not by MK-801. These experimental flinchings suggest that spinal, and partial peripheral mechanisms of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors are involved in the development and maintenance of WBV- and melittin-induced nociceptive responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.221-226
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• 2007

Melittin-induced tonic pain model is characterized by local inflammation, edema, spontaneous flinchings, and sustained mechanical hypersensitivity. These nociceptive responses are mediated through selective activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent fibers by melittin. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the role of peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) receptors in the melittin-induced nociceptive responses. Changes in mechanical threshold, flinching behaviors and paw thickness were measured in rat intraplantarly injected with melittin($40{\mu}g/paw$) alone or treated together with melittin and 5-HT receptor antagonists. WAY-100635($100{\mu}g\;&\;200{\mu}g/paw$), isamoltane hemifumarate($100{\mu}g\;&\;200{\mu}g/paw$), methysergide maleate($60{\mu}g,\;120{\mu}g\;&\;200{\mu}g/paw$) and ICS-205,930($100{\mu}g\;&\;200{\mu}g/paw$) were intraplantarly injected 20 min before melittin injection. All 5-HT receptor antagonists tested in this experiment significantly attenuated the ability of melittin to reduce mechanical threshold and to induce flinching behaviors. 5-HT receptor antagonists, except ICS-205,930, had mild inhibitory effect on melittin-induced edema. These experimental findings suggest that multiple peripheral 5-HT receptors are involved in the melittin-induced nociceptive responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.215-219
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• 2007

Small and large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+(SK_{Ca}\;and\;BK_{Ca})$ channels are implicated in the modulation of neuronal excitability. We investigated how changes in peripheral $K_{Ca}$ channel activity affect mechanical sensitivity as well as the afferent fiber type responsible for $K_{Ca}$ channel-induced mechanical sensitivity. Blockade of $SK_{Ca}$ and $BK_{Ca}$ channels induced a sustained decrease of mechanical threshold which was significantly attenuated by topical application of capsaicin onto afferent fiber and intraplantar injection of 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone. NS1619 selectively attenuated the decrease of mechanical threshold induced by charybdotoxin, but not by apamin. Spontaneous flinching and paw thickness were not significantly different after $K_{Ca}$ channel blockade. These results suggest that mechanical sensitivity can be modulated by $K_{Ca}$ channels on capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.255-261
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• 2006

Melittin-induced nociceptive responses are mediated by selective activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent fibers and are modulated by excitatory amino acid receptor, cyclooxygenase, protein kinase C and serotonin receptor. The present study was undertaken to investigate the peripheral and spinal actions of voltage-gated calcium channel antagonists on melittin-induced nociceptive responses. Changes in mechanical threshold and number of flinchings were measured after intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of melittin $(30\;{\mu}g/paw)$ into mid-plantar area of hindpaw. L-type calcium channel antagonists, verapamil [intrathecal (i.t.), 6 or $12\;{\mu}g$; i.pl.,100 & $200\;{\mu}g$; i.p., 10 or 30 mg], N-type calcium channel blocker, ${\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA (i.t., 0.1 or $0.5\;{\mu}g$; i.pl., $5\;{\mu}g$) and P-type calcium channel antagonist, ${\omega}-agatoxin$ IVA (i.t., $0.5\;{\mu}g$; i.pl., $5\;{\mu}g$) were administered 20 min before or 60 min after i.pl. injection of melittin. Intraplantar pre-treatment and i.t. pre- or post-treatment of verapamil and ${\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA dose-dependently attenuated the reduction of mechanical threshold, and melittin-induced flinchings were inhibited by i.pl. or i.t. pre-treatment of both antagonists. P-type calcium channel blocker, ${\omega}-agatoxin$ IVA, had significant inhibitory action on flinching behaviors, but had a limited effect on melittin-induced decrease in mechanical threshold. These experimental findings suggest that verapamil and ${\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA can inhibit the development and maintenance of melittin-induced nociceptive responses.