Responses to noxious heat were selleck kinase inhibitor unaffected by 10% CA and menthol regardless of the order of chemical presentation. These data indicate that superficial Vc neurons receive convergent input from primary afferents expressing TRPM8 and TRPA1. The mutual cross-desensitization between CA and menthol, and differential modulation of cold- vs. heat-evoked responses, suggests a direct inhibition of TRPM8 and TRPA1 expressed in peripheral nerve endings by CA and menthol,
respectively, rather than a central site of interaction. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The role of the alpha 4 beta 2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in tobacco addiction in humans is largely unresolved. We visualized brain alpha 4 beta 2* nicotinic
PX-478 molecular weight acetylcholine receptors of smokers and non-smokers with positron emission tomography using 2-[F-18]fluoro-3-(2(S)azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine, commonly known as 2-[F-18]F-A-85380. The total brain distribution volume of 2-[F-18]F-A-85380 was significantly increased in smokers. Statistical parametric mapping revealed that the most prominent regional differences of distribution volumes (DV) were found in cerebellum and brainstem with an increased uptake in smokers. The up-regulation of alpha 4 beta 2* nAChR upon chronic nicotine exposure via tobacco smoking incorporates Selleckchem MK-0518 subcortical brain regions which may play an important role in nicotine addiction. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“[C-11]Raclopride ([C-11]RAC) is a selective dopamine D-2/D-3 antagonist that is commonly used in positron emission tomography (PET) studies to assess both basal levels of receptor availability and changes in availability caused by alterations in striatal dopamine concentration. When designing [C-11]RAC studies, it is important to understand what variables may affect the results. Here, we examined differences in baseline striatal [C-11]RAC binding
potential (BPND) under two different “”rest”" conditions. Thirteen subjects received [C-11]RAC scans. Eight subjects were aware prior to initiation of scanning that they would receive a “”baseline”" scan, and that no additional procedures would take place during the scan (“”certain rest”" group, CER). Five subjects were informed that they might or might not receive an IV alcohol infusion during the scan (“”uncertain rest”" group, UNC). This group was informed five min after scan start that they would not receive alcohol. Voxel-wise analyses of binding potential (BPND) images generated for both “”rest”" conditions indicated that receptor availability was higher in UNC than in CER. This result was confirmed by a region-of-interest analysis, which indicated that the average BPND in right and left putamen was statistically higher in UNC.