Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:54
Human In-Vivo Bioassay for the Tissue-Specific Measurement of Nociceptive and Inflammatory Mediators
Published on: December 1, 2008
Hydrogen sulfide as a novel nociceptive messenger
Atsufumi Kawabata1, Tsuyoshi Ishiki, Keita Nagasawa
1Division of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Kinki University, Higashi-Osaka 577-8502, Japan. kawabata@phar.kindai.ac.jp
Pain
|March 10, 2007
Summary
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as a pain messenger by sensitizing T-type calcium channels, contributing to hyperalgesia, especially during inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter involved in mammalian biological events, including inflammation.
- The role of H2S in peripheral pain processing remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of H2S in peripheral nociceptive processing.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying H2S-induced hyperalgesia.
Main Methods:
- Administration of H2S donor (NaHS) and L-cysteine in rats to induce hyperalgesia.
- Inhibition of H2S-evoked hyperalgesia using specific inhibitors (DTNB, ethosuximide, mibefradil, PPG, BCA).
- Patch-clamp electrophysiology on NG108-15 cells to assess T-type Ca2+ channel activity.
Main Results:
- Intraplantar administration of NaHS induced hyperalgesia and Fos expression in the spinal dorsal horn.
- H2S-evoked hyperalgesia was blocked by T-type Ca2+ channel inhibitors and an oxidizing agent.
- Inhibition of H2S synthesis reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced hyperalgesia, which was reversed by NaHS.
- NaHS enhanced T-type Ca2+ channel currents in NG108-15 cells.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogen sulfide acts as a novel nociceptive messenger in peripheral tissues.
- H2S sensitizes T-type Ca2+ channels, contributing to pain signaling, particularly during inflammatory conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:44Nociception
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
01:24Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
01:20Pain
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
01:26Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
01:30Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...