Abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: T-type voltage-gated calcium channels are an emerging therapeutic target for neurological disorders including epilepsy and pain. Inhibition of T-type channels reduces the excitability of peripheral nociceptive sensory neurons and reverses pain hypersensitivity in male rodent pain models. However, administration of peripherally restricted T-type antagonists failed to show efficacy in multiple clinical and preclinical pain trials, suggesting that inhibition of peripheral T-type channels alone may be insufficient for pain relief. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We utilized the selective and CNS-penetrant T-type channel antagonist, Z944, in electrophysiological, calcium imaging and behavioural paradigms to determine its effect on lamina I neuron excitability and inflammatory pain behaviours. KEY RESULTS: Voltage-clamp recordings from lamina I spinal neurons of adult rats revealed that approximately 80% of neurons possess a low threshold T-type current, which was blocked by Z944. Due to this highly prevalent T-type current, Z944 potently blocked action-potential evoked somatic and dendritic calcium transients in lamina I neurons. Moreover, application of Z944 to spinal cord slices attenuated action potential firing rates in over half of laminae I/II neurons. Finally, we found that intraperitoneal injection of Z944 (1-10 mg·kg-1 ) dose-dependently reversed mechanical allodynia in the complete Freund's adjuvant model of persistent inflammatory pain, with a similar magnitude and time course of analgesic effects between male and female rats. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS:
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Authors | Erika K Harding, Annemarie Dedek, Robert P Bonin, Michael W Salter, Terrance P Snutch, Michael E Hildebrand |
Journal | British journal of pharmacology
(Br J Pharmacol)
Vol. 178
Issue 17
Pg. 3517-3532
(09 2021)
ISSN: 1476-5381 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 33871884
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2021 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society. |
Chemical References |
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Calcium Channels, T-Type
- Piperidines
- Z944
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Topics |
- Animals
- Calcium Channel Blockers
(pharmacology)
- Calcium Channels, T-Type
- Female
- Male
- Pain
(drug therapy)
- Piperidines
- Rats
- Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn
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