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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Recording Network Activity in Spinal Nociceptive Circuits Using Microelectrode Arrays
Published on: February 9, 2022
New index of pain triggered by spinal activation of voltage-dependent sodium channels
Ryugo Enomoto1, Mina Tsukamoto, Yukinori Shimoshige
1Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Astellas Pharma Inc., Miyukigaoka 21, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan, ryuugo.enomoto@astellas.com.
Abstract:
Voltage-dependent sodium channels (VDSCs) are crucial for pain generation. Here, to develop a new behavioral index of pain induced by spinal VDSC activation, we examined whether intrathecal veratridine injection produced nociceptive behavior. Intrathecal injection of the VDSC opener veratridine in mice dose-dependently induced nociceptive responses, with response times subsequently reduced by administration of morphine or pregabalin. Systemic administration of lidocaine and mexiletine, but not amitriptyline, also decreased this response time. Taken together, these results demonstrated that response time of nociceptive behavior induced by intrathecal veratridine injection is a quantitative index of pain triggered by spinal VDSC activation.
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