alpha-conotoxin-vc1.1 and Visceral-Pain

α-Conotoxin Vc1.1 is a small disulfide-bonded peptide from the venom of the marine cone snail. We determined the inhibitory actions of Vc1.1 on human DRG neurons and on mouse colonic sensory afferents in healthy and chronic visceral hypersensitivity (CVH) states. In mice, visceral nociception was assessed by neuronal activation within the spinal cord in response to noxious colorectal distension (CRD). Quantitative-reverse-transcription-PCR, single-cell-reverse-transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry determined γ-aminobutyric acid receptor B (GABA. Vc1.1 reduced the excitability of human DRG neurons, whereas a synthetic Vc1.1 analogue that is inactive at GABA. Vc1.1-mediated activation of GABA

Topics: Animals; Baclofen; Calcium Channels, N-Type; Calcium Channels, R-Type; Cation Transport Proteins; Cells, Cultured; Chronic Pain; Colon; Conotoxins; Disease Models, Animal; Electrophysiology; Female; GABA-B Receptor Agonists; GABA-B Receptor Antagonists; Ganglia, Spinal; Gene Expression; Humans; Male; Mice; Neurons, Afferent; Nociception; Receptors, GABA-B; Up-Regulation; Visceral Pain; Young Adult