Lateral hypothalamic-induced alpha-adrenoceptor modulation occurs in a model of inflammatory pain in rats

Previous work from our lab showed that stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) produces analgesia (antinociception) in a model of thermal nociceptive pain. This antinociceptive effect is mediated by alpha2-adrenoceptors in the spinal cord dorsal horn. However, a concomitant, opposing hyperalgesic (pro-nociceptive) response also occurs, which is mediated by alpha1-adrenoceptors in the dorsal horn. Antinociception predominates but is attenuated by the pronociceptive response. To determine whether such an effect occurs in a model of inflammatory pain, we applied mustard oil (allyl isothiocyanate; 20 microl) to the left ankle of female Sprague-Dawley rats. We then stimulated the LH using carbamylcholine chloride (carbachol; 125 nmol). The foot withdrawal latencies were measured. Some rats received intrathecal alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists to determine whether the opposing alpha-adrenoceptor response was present. Mustard oil application produced hyperalgesia in the affected paw, while the LH stimulation increased the foot withdrawal latencies for the mustard oil paw as compared to the control group. Following carbachol microinjection in the LH, WB4101, an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, produced significantly longer foot withdrawal latencies compared to saline controls, while yohimbine, an alpha2-antagonist, decreased the foot withdrawal latencies from 10 min postinjection (p < .05). These findings support the hypothesis that the LH-induced nociceptive modulation is mediated through an alpha-adrenoceptor opposing response in a model of inflammatory pain.