Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a well known inflammatory mediator and algesic substance. It has been hypothesized that 5-HT can have a direct action on peripheral sensory axons, but there has been no anatomical demonstration of 5-HT receptors on peripheral primary afferent processes. The present study shows that 32% of unmyelinated axons at the dermal-epidermal junction are immunohistochemically stained with antibodies directed against the 5-HT(2A) receptor providing anatomical evidence that 5-HT can have a direct effect on sensory fibers in the skin. Furthermore, encapsulated nerve endings in Pacinian corpuscles also contain reaction product following immunostaining for 5-HT(2A) receptors, indicating that large myelinated axons can be activated by endogenous serotonin. These data suggest that peripherally acting 5-HT(2A) antagonists may be effective in reducing pain of peripheral origin.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 271-275 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Brain Research |
| Volume | 763 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 25 1997 |
Keywords
- Catecholamine
- Pain
- Peripheral sensitization
- Ultrastructure
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental Biology
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