The role of the sympathetic efferents in endotoxin-induced localized inflammatory hyperalgesia and cytokine upregulation

The sympathetic system (SNS) is considered to be a major component of the neurogenic contribution to inflammation and hyperalgesia. We have investigated the role of the SNS in the local inflammatory pain induced by intraplantar (i.pl) injections of bacterial endotoxin (ET). Treatment of rats with an a-adrenoceptor antagonist (phentolamine, 0.25-1 mg/kg, i.p.), a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol, 1-10 mg/kg, p.o.) or a sympathetic neuron-blocking agent (guanethedine, 30 mg/kg, s.c.) resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of the thermal hyperalgesia induced by ET. Mechanical hyperalgesia, however, was less sensitive to inhibition by propranolol and guanethedine but significantly inhibited by phentolamine. ET injection produced significant upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, and nerve growth factor (NGF). Treatment with any one of the three sympatholytics abolished the upregulation of NGF and IL-6, while phentolamine and guanethedine also reversed the upregulation of TNF-alpha. IL-1beta was resistant to all of the sympatholytic treatments. We conclude that the SNS can contribute to the local inflammation and hyperalgesia following injection of ET. The resistance to sympatholytics shown by IL-1beta, known to play a key role in the inflammatory cascade, suggests that ET can initiate inflammation and hyperalgesia independently of peripheral and central sympathetic mechanisms. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.