Mice over-expressing galanin have elevated heat nociceptive threshold

The neuropeptide galanin may have a role in modulation of nociceptive input at spinal level. Here we report that mice over-expressing galanin exhibit significant elevation of nociceptive threshold to thermal stimulation in co mparison to wildtype mice as assessed by the tail flick and paw heat irradi ation tests. No change in response to mechanical or cold stimulation was se en. The elevated heat nociceptive threshold in the galanin over-expressing mice was reversed by intrathecal application of the putative galanin recept or antagonist M-35, galanin-(1-12)-pro-bradykinin-(2-9). The results thus s upport that galanin has an inhibitory function in rodent spinal cord. Neuro Report 12:423-425 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.