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Related Experiment Videos

Quantitative objective assessment of peripheral nociceptive C fibre function.

N Parkhouse1, P M Le Quesne

  • 1Department of Surgical Studies, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|January 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a new method to measure C fibre function using acetylcholine-induced axon reflex flare. The flare size, indicating neurogenic vasodilation, decreases with age in males but not females.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Peripheral nociceptive C fibres play a crucial role in pain and sensory perception.
  • Assessing C fibre function is vital for diagnosing neuropathies and understanding pain mechanisms.
  • Current methods for evaluating C fibre function can be invasive or lack quantitative precision.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a novel technique for the quantitative assessment of peripheral nociceptive C fibre function.
  • To investigate the neurogenic vasodilatation response (axon reflex flare) induced by acetylcholine.
  • To compare acetylcholine-induced flare with other forms of cutaneous vasodilation.

Main Methods:

  • A technique utilizing acetylcholine electrophoresis to stimulate C fibre endings and measure axon reflex flare.

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  • Laser Doppler flowmetry was employed to quantify the increase in blood flow within the flare area.
  • The neurogenic flare was compared to mechanically or chemically induced non-neurogenic vasodilation and tested for abolition by local anaesthetics.

    • Main Results:

    • The acetylcholine-induced axon reflex flare is a reliable indicator of neurogenic vasodilatation.
    • The flare response was abolished by local anaesthetics, confirming its neurogenic origin.
    • In 96 healthy subjects, the size of the axon reflex flare on the sole of the foot showed a significant decrease with increasing age in males, but not in females.

    Conclusions:

    • The described technique provides a quantitative and reliable method for assessing peripheral nociceptive C fibre function.
    • Age-related decline in C fibre function, specifically neurogenic vasodilation, is evident in males but not females.
    • This method holds potential for clinical applications in diagnosing and monitoring conditions affecting C fibre function.